48 essential Dutch social-glue phrases with pronunciation guides.
Click listen to hear each phrase with native-quality pronunciation.
It doesn't matter
Lit. "It makes not out"
A2neutralexpression
Welke kleur? — Het maakt niet uit, doe maar wat je wilt. — Which color? — It doesn't matter, just do what you want.
No idea / I have no idea
Lit. "No idea"
A1informalexpression
Weet je waar mijn sleutels zijn? — Geen idee. — Do you know where my keys are? — No idea.
Hi (informal greeting)
A1informalexclamation
Hoi! Alles goed? — Hi! Everything okay?
Bye (informal)
A1informalexclamation
Ik ga ervandoor. Doei! — I'm off. Bye!
Good luck! / Best of luck!
A1neutralexpression
Je hebt morgen examen? Veel succes! — You have an exam tomorrow? Good luck!
How are you? / How's it going?
A1neutralquestion-phrase
Hé, hoe gaat het met je? — Hey, how are you doing?
Cozy, convivial, fun, sociable — the quintessential Dutch untranslatable word
A2neutralsingle-word
Wat was het gezellig gisteravond! — It was so gezellig last night! (convivial/fun/warm)
Tasty, nice, good — extremely versatile Dutch word
A1informalsingle-word
Lekker weertje vandaag, hè? — Nice weather today, right?
Of course / Sure (informal contraction of 'natuurlijk')
A2informalsingle-word
Kan ik je fiets lenen? — Tuurlijk! — Can I borrow your bike? — Of course!
Exactly / Precisely
A2neutralsingle-word
Dus je bedoelt dat we meer tijd nodig hebben? — Precies. — So you mean we need more time? — Exactly.
Indeed / That's right
A2neutralsingle-word
Het was een lange dag. — Inderdaad. — It was a long day. — Indeed.
That's right / Correct
Lit. "Knocks"
A2neutralsingle-word
Je bent toch van Rotterdam? — Klopt! — You're from Rotterdam, right? — That's right!
Well... / I mean... (hedging filler)
A2informalfiller
Nou ja, het is niet ideaal, maar het kan erger. — Well, it's not ideal, but it could be worse.
So to speak / just (use the informal 'je') / let's say
Lit. "Say but"
B1informalfiller
Je kunt me zeg maar Thomas noemen. — You can just call me Thomas.
You know (filler/tag question)
Lit. "Know you"
A2informalfiller
Het is, weet je, niet zo makkelijk als het lijkt. — It's, you know, not as easy as it seems.
Let's meet up / Let's make plans
A2neutralexpression
Laten we volgende week afspreken voor koffie. — Let's meet up next week for coffee.
How nice! / How fun!
A1neutralexclamation
Ik ga naar Italië! — Wat leuk! — I'm going to Italy! — How nice!
See you soon / See you in a bit
A1neutralexpression
Ik ben er over een kwartier. Tot zo! — I'll be there in fifteen minutes. See you soon!
Bye! (neutral farewell, also used as greeting in Belgium)
A1neutralexclamation
Dag, tot de volgende keer! — Bye, until next time!
Please / Here you go (informal)
Lit. "If it pleases you"
A1informalexpression
Alsjeblieft, je koffie. — Here you go, your coffee.
Sorry, what did you say?
A1informalquestion-phrase
Sorry, wat zei je? Het was hier zo druk. — Sorry, what did you say? It was so busy here.
Doesn't matter / No worries
Lit. "Makes not out"
A1informalexpression
Sorry dat ik te laat ben. — Maakt niet uit! — Sorry I'm late. — Doesn't matter!
That's how it is / Exactly
A2neutralexpression
Het leven is niet altijd makkelijk. — Zo is het. — Life isn't always easy. — That's how it is.
Have fun!
A1neutralexpression
Ga je naar het feest? Veel plezier! — Are you going to the party? Have fun!
Good night (before sleep)
Lit. "Well to rest"
A1neutralexpression
Ik ga naar bed. Welterusten! — I'm going to bed. Good night!
Gosh! / Geez! (mild surprise/frustration)
A2informalexclamation
Jeetje, wat is het warm vandaag! — Gosh, it's hot today!
Really? / Is that true?
Lit. "Really true?"
A1informalquestion-phrase
Ik heb de loterij gewonnen! — Echt waar?! — I won the lottery! — Really?!
Absolutely! / Totally! / Completely!
A2neutralexclamation
Vond je de film goed? — Helemaal! — Did you like the movie? — Absolutely!
You bet! / Absolutely! (emphatic agreement)
Lit. "Well and whether!"
B1informalexclamation
Was het feest leuk? — Nou en of! — Was the party fun? — You bet!
You can't be serious! / No way!
Lit. "That mean you not!"
B1informalexclamation
Ik heb mijn baan opgezegd. — Dat meen je niet! — I quit my job. — You can't be serious!
That's not my problem
A2informalexpression
De printer doet het niet. — Dat is mijn probleem niet, bel IT. — The printer isn't working. — That's not my problem, call IT.
Social drinks gathering — a cornerstone of Dutch social life
A2informalsingle-word
Kom je vrijdag naar de borrel? — Are you coming to the drinks on Friday?
See you tomorrow
A1neutralexpression
Ik ga naar huis. Tot morgen! — I'm heading home. See you tomorrow!
Have a nice day
A1neutralexpression
Bedankt voor uw hulp. Fijne dag nog! — Thanks for your help. Have a nice day!
Be strong / Hang in there / Good luck (in tough times)
A2neutralexpression
Ik hoorde dat je moeder ziek is. Sterkte. — I heard your mother is ill. Hang in there.
Act normal / Don't show off
Lit. "Do but normal"
A2informalexpression
Hij kwam met een limousine. — Doe maar normaal! — He showed up in a limo. — Just act normal!
Absolutely / For sure / Definitely
Lit. "Certain to know"
A2informalexpression
Ga je mee naar het concert? — Zeker weten! — Are you coming to the concert? — Absolutely!
Just act normally / Keep it simple
A2informalexpression
Moet ik me chic kleden? — Nee joh, doe maar gewoon. — Should I dress fancy? — No, just keep it casual.
Congratulations! — used extensively in Dutch culture
A1neutralexclamation
Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! — Happy birthday! (lit: Congratulations on your birthday!)
Calendar of birthdays — hung in nearly every Dutch toilet
Lit. "Birthday calendar"
B1neutralsingle-word
Vergeet niet mijn verjaardag op de verjaardagskalender te zetten! — Don't forget to put my birthday on the birthday calendar!
Thrifty / Frugal / Economical
B1neutralsingle-word
Nederlanders staan bekend als zuinig. — The Dutch are known for being thrifty.
Ridiculous / Absurd
B1neutralsingle-word
Die prijs is belachelijk hoog! — That price is ridiculously high!
Busy, busy, busy — the standard Dutch response to 'how are you'
Lit. "Busy, busy, busy"
A2informalexpression
Hoe gaat het? — Druk, druk, druk, zoals altijd! — How are you? — Busy, busy, busy, as always!
Yes (confirming) / Oh yes / Sure thing
A1informalexpression
Wil je koffie? — Ja hoor, lekker! — Want coffee? — Yes please, lovely!
No, not at all / No worries
A1informalexpression
Stoor ik? — Nee hoor, kom binnen! — Am I disturbing you? — Not at all, come in!
That sucks / That's a bummer
Lit. "That is bales"
B1informalexpression
Je vlucht is geannuleerd? Dat is balen! — Your flight is cancelled? That sucks!
Having a nice meal together (social eating)
A2neutralexpression
Zullen we vrijdag gezellig samen eten? — Shall we have a nice dinner together on Friday?
To go visit someone
A2neutralexpression
We gaan zondag op bezoek bij oma. — We're going to visit grandma on Sunday.