Last updated:
THE HAGUE – October 4, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Basic Dutch phrases: these are 47 everyday Dutch phrases for expats and visitors, from hallo and dank je wel to paying by card and calling 112. Every phrase has an English translation and an audio button, so you can hear how it sounds and say it out loud. All phrases come from our free Dutch game lessons, where you can practise them in real conversations.
Five phrases to learn first
- Hallo / Hoi: hello / hi
- Dank je wel / Dank u wel: thank you (informal / polite)
- Pardon, mag ik iets vragen?: excuse me, may I ask something?
- Mag ik pinnen?: can I pay by card?
- Bel 112!: call 112! (the emergency number)
Tap ▶ to hear a phrase. The audio uses natural-sounding AI Dutch voices at normal speed.
Basic Dutch phrases: contents
- 1. Greetings and goodbyes
- 2. Please, thank you and excuse me
- 3. Introducing yourself
- 4. Shopping and paying
- 5. Numbers, age and time
- 6. Small talk about the weather
- 7. Asking the way
- 8. At the doctor and in an emergency
- 9. Je or u? Informal and polite Dutch
- 10. Practise these phrases for free
- 11. FAQ
- Sources
1. Greetings and goodbyes
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| hallo | hello | |
| hoi | hi | |
| goedenavond | good evening | |
| Hoi! Hoe gaat het? | Hi! How are you? | |
| Goed, dank je. En met jou? | Good, thanks. And you? | |
| doei | bye | |
| tot ziens | goodbye (see you) |
Practise these in: Dutch greetings.
2. Please, thank you and excuse me
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| dank je wel | thank you very much | |
| dank u wel | thank you (polite) | |
| alstublieft | please, here you are (polite) | |
| Graag gedaan. | You're welcome. | |
| Pardon, mag ik iets vragen? | Excuse me, may I ask something? | |
| Ja hoor, natuurlijk. | Sure, of course. |
Practise these in: Dutch greetings.
3. Introducing yourself
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Hallo, ik ben Sanne. Hoe heet jij? | Hello, I'm Sanne. What's your name? | |
| Ik heet Sofia. | My name is Sofia. | |
| Waar kom je vandaan? | Where are you from? | |
| Ik kom uit Spanje. Ik woon in Rotterdam. | I'm from Spain. I live in Rotterdam. | |
| Waar woon je? | Where do you live? | |
| Wat is je adres? | What's your address? | |
| Leuk! | Nice! |
Practise these in: Dutch greetings.
4. Shopping and paying
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Mag ik pinnen? | Can I pay by card? | |
| Ja hoor. Wilt u het bonnetje? | Sure. Would you like the receipt? | |
| Nee, dank u. Fijne dag! | No, thank you. Have a nice day! | |
| Waar vind ik de melk? | Where can I find the milk? | |
| Anders nog iets? | Anything else? | |
| Anders nog iets? — Nee, dat was het. | Anything else? — No, that's it. | |
| Ik eet liever vis dan vlees. | I prefer fish to meat. |
Practise these in: Dutch at the supermarket.
Pinnen means paying by debit card (and also withdrawing cash with one).
5. Numbers, age and time
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Wat is je telefoonnummer? | What's your phone number? | |
| Hoe oud ben je? | How old are you? | |
| Hoe laat is het? | What time is it? | |
| Het is drie uur. | It's three o'clock. |
Practise these in: Dutch numbers.
6. Small talk about the weather
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Wat voor weer is het? | What's the weather like? | |
| Echt Nederlands weer! | Real Dutch weather! | |
| Het is lekker warm vandaag. | It's nice and warm today. | |
| Morgen wordt het kouder. | Tomorrow it's getting colder. | |
| Wat zegt de weersverwachting? | What does the forecast say? | |
| Moet ik een jas aan? | Do I need a coat? |
Practise these in: Dutch weather words.
7. Asking the way
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Waar is het station? | Where is the station? | |
| Daar, rechtdoor. | Over there, straight ahead. |
Practise these in: Dutch greetings.
8. At the doctor and in an emergency
| Dutch | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| Goedemorgen, ik wil graag een afspraak maken. | Good morning, I'd like to make an appointment. | |
| Ik heb al een week keelpijn. | I've had a sore throat for a week. | |
| Ik heb pijn in mijn rug. | My back hurts. (literally: I have pain in my back) | |
| Ik ben verkouden en ik heb koorts. | I have a cold and a fever. | |
| Ik meld me ziek bij mijn werk. | I'm calling in sick at work. | |
| Ik kom dit recept ophalen. | I've come to collect this prescription. | |
| Help! Mijn vriend is gevallen! | Help! My friend has fallen! | |
| Bel 112! Het is een noodgeval. | Call 112! It's an emergency. |
Practise these in: Dutch at the huisarts.
112 is the emergency number in the Netherlands for urgent help from the police, fire brigade or ambulance, for example when someone is seriously injured or life is in danger. It is free to call. For police help that is not urgent, call 0900 8844.
9. Je or u? Informal and polite Dutch
Dutch has two words for “you”. Use je/jij with friends, colleagues and people your age, and u to be polite, for example with older people or in formal situations. That is why you hear both dank je wel and dank u wel, and why a shop assistant asks Wilt u het bonnetje? If you are unsure, u is the safe, polite choice.
10. Practise these phrases for free
Reading a list is a start; using the phrases in a conversation is how they stick. In our free Dutch lessons you hear each phrase in a short dialogue, learn the words with de or het, and play quick games. No sign-up, no app. New to Dutch? Read how to learn Dutch for free online.
How long until you can hold a conversation? Read how long it takes to learn Dutch.
11. FAQ
How do you say hello in Dutch?
Hallo or, more casually, hoi. In the evening you can say goedenavond (good evening).
How do you say thank you in Dutch?
Dank je wel (informal) or dank u wel (polite). The answer is graag gedaan (you’re welcome).
How do you ask to pay by card in Dutch?
Say Mag ik pinnen? (Can I pay by card?).
What is the emergency number in the Netherlands?
112, for urgent help from the police, fire brigade or ambulance. For non-urgent police matters call 0900 8844.
Can I hear how the phrases are pronounced?
Yes. Every phrase on this page has an audio button, and you can practise them in our free Dutch lessons.
Sources
- Phrases and translations: The Dutch Daily Dutch lessons (greetings, supermarket, numbers, weather and huisarts units); English glosses of every word checked against Wiktionary, including pinnen (to pay by debit card).
- Government of the Netherlands: Emergency number 112 (urgent help from police, fire brigade or ambulance; free; non-urgent police number 0900 8844).
More in our guide: Moving to the Netherlands
Free: Netherlands 2027 Money Checklist
Every deadline and number you need before and after 1 January 2027, on two printable pages. Confirm your email and the PDF is yours; we will also email you when the 2027 figures are confirmed.
