Basic words and phrases in Dutch
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In this chapter you will learn some basic words and phrases in Dutch. Here you will learn several words you can use to say "thank you" as well as the words for "yes" and "no" in Dutch. Here you can also find some useful Dutch words and phrases that can be used in many situations, for example when visiting the doctor or when going to school.
The words for yes and no in Dutch are quite similar to the English words. If you speak German, you're in luck! The Dutch and German word for yes is exactly the same!
English | Dutch |
---|---|
Yes | Ja |
No | Nee |
Maybe | Misschien |
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There are a couple of words you can use to say "thank you" in Dutch. You use the formal words when you're talking to older people, or to people that you do not know very well. The word "bedankt" is both formal and informal.
English | Dutch |
---|---|
Thank you (formal) | Dank u |
Thank you (informal) | Dankje |
Thank you (formal/informal) | Bedankt |
Thank you very much | Hartelijk bedankt |
No, thanks | Nee, bedankt |
Please (formal) | Alstublieft |
Please (informal) | Alsjeblieft |
You're welcome | Graag gedaan |
These Dutch phrases can be used in many situation. Some of these words and phrases can be used in case you're not understanding something in Dutch.
English | Dutch |
---|---|
Welcome | Welkom |
Where are you from? | Waar kom je vandaan? |
I am from ... | Ik kom uit ... |
Good luck | Succes |
Cheers | Proost |
Have a nice day | Fijne dag (gewenst) |
Enjoy your meal | Eet smakelijk |
Have a good journey | Goede reis |
I understand | Ik begrijp het |
I don't understand | Ik begrijp het niet |
I don't know | Ik weet het niet |
Could you speak more slowly? | Kunt u langzamer praten? |
Could you repeat that? | Kunt u dat herhalen? |
Could you write that down? | Kunt u dat opschrijven? |
Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels? |
You can talk to me in Dutch. | U kunt Nederlands tegen mij praten. |
Excuse me | Excuseer mij |
Sorry | Sorry |
I miss you | Ik mis je |
I love you | Ik hou van je |
Get well soon | Beterschap |
Happy Birthday | Fijne verjaardag |
Congratulations | Gefeliciteerd |
The following words and phrases might come in handy when you have to visit the doctors.
English | Dutch |
---|---|
The doctor | De dokter |
The nurse | De verpleger |
The patient | De patiënt |
The pharmacy | De apotheek |
The waiting room | De wachtkamer |
The health insurance | De ziekteverzekering |
The medications | De geneesmiddelen |
To prescribe | Voorschrijven |
The pill | De pil |
The recipe | Het recept |
The hospital | Het ziekenhuis |
The ambulance | De ambulance |
The emergency call | De noodoproep |
English | Dutch |
---|---|
Healthy | Gezond |
Ill; sick | Ziek |
Tired | Moe |
The illness | De ziekte |
The inflammation | De ontsteking |
The Common Cold | De verkoudheid |
The flu | De griep |
The sore throat | De keelpijn |
The cough | De hoest |
The headache | De hoofdpijn |
The swelling | De zwelling |
The allergy | De allergie |
English | Dutch |
---|---|
What happened? | Wat is er gebeurd? |
What's the problem? | Wat is het probleem? |
What's hurting? | Wat doet er pijn? |
Where is your pain located? | Waar voel je pijn? |
How do you feel? | Hoe voel je je? |
I feel... | Ik voel me... |
My ... hurts. | Mijn ... doet pijn. |
To better describe your medical problems, you can use the chapter about body parts in Dutch.
English | Dutch |
---|---|
The school | De school |
The teacher | De leraar; de juf; de meester; de docent |
The student | De leerling; de student |
The homework | Het huiswerk |
The test | De toets |
The exam | Het examen |
The example | Het voorbeeld |
Easy / difficult | Makkelijk / moeilijk |
Correct / incorrect | Goed / fout |
The book | Het boek |
The schedule | Het rooster |
The lunch break | De lunchpauze |
English | Slovak |
---|---|
The subject | Het vak |
History | Geschiedenis |
Biology | Biologie |
Maths | Wiskunde |
The language | De taal |
Physical Education | Lichamelijke Opvoeding |
Geography | Aardrijkskunde |
Economics | Economie |
Now it is time to test your knowledge about basic Dutch words and phrases with some of our exercises!
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Elena is very good at keeping the conversation going, she nicely corrects my pronunciation mistakes (which I like) and teaches me new words and expresions useful for the conversation in question. I like how she adapts to my learning wishes and needs, prepares interesting subjects and promotes deep, professional and personal exchanges of ideas. Highly recommended!
Elena P.Thank you for your feedback, David! I am happy to know that you are satisfied with the classes. Keep going because you are learning fast and well!
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Hello! My name is Emilia and I am an experienced language tutor and translator from/to Bulgarian, Spanish, English and Dutch. My biggest passion are foreign languages and I have passed this passion to many of my students throughout the years. Despite the fact I have a Master's degree in Economics and International Business and I've worked few years as an economist, my heart always takes me back to my teaching and translation jobs. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, a great level of patience and dedication to my work, and a great number of happy students, I am here to help you learn Bulgarian, Spanish and Dutch at your own pace and convenience. Hope to hear from you soon! Best regards, Emilia
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Emilia is a great teacher. Very experienced and very flexible and adaptable to my specific needs. The lessons with her are going very smooth and with no stress and I really enjoy learning new language with her. Thank you Emilia!!!
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Hello,I would love to help you improve your knowledge of English.I adapt the lessons following your wishes : are you a beginner and need to get some basic knowledge with grammar and easy texts or do you want to improve your conversation skills. I can help you either way.Looking forward to meeting you !
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We spoke in Dutch for most of the lesson which was ideal for me. Francoise was very patient and helpful.
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Learn to communicate in Dutch from the first lesson! Enjoyable classes with teaching materials tailored to your needs. First 15 min. class for free. My name is Karin and I'm from Holland, but I live on the Canary Islands. I love teaching DUTCH and have done so for more than 20 years. I have a Diploma in English Philology. I also have two methodology degrees: the CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults of the University of Cambridge) and the FCTBE (Foundation Certificate for Teachers of Business English of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
I have taught at a Business School and ten companies. In the last two years I've mainly been giving private lessons and I've developed a variety of online self-study DUTCH courses. My schedule is flexible and I adapt myself to the needs and interests of my students so that they reach their objectives in the shortest possible time.
Enjoyable classes, with teaching materials tailored to your needs.
How do the classes work? A class lasts 45 minutes. I'll send you the materials we are going to use in class beforehand so you can print them. After the class I'll send you audios of the notes we made, vocabulary etc. My speciality is communication, from beginner level to advanced. So, you will speak some Dutch in the first class already! Why wait any longer? Let's get started! :-)
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I had my first lesson a couple of days ago and everything went super good! Karin was attentive, transmiting her positivism and helping me with every doubt I had. She really focus on teaching how to pronounce and talk a language, so this is really interesting for me, to practise it & be able to use it in my day by day. I really recommend her to everyone willing to learn a new language :)
Karin L.Hi Alba! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I enjoyed our class too & I wish you the best of luck with all your future projects :-)
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It took me a long time to find my real passion in my (work) life. After studying in two universities, graduating in two bachelors, travelling the world and working abroad for several years I realized public education is where my heart lies. I went for the third time back to the university to get my teachers degree.
I have been a classroom teacher for 5 years in Dutch primary schools before I moved 4,5 years ago abroad to Colombia where I became specifically an English teacher. I am specialized in teaching in pre-, elementary, middle (secondary) and high school. I have been teaching in all different grades and all primary subjects in English and got specialised in Teaching English as a second language. Most schools where I have been working were inspired by the philosophy of 'Vygotsky'. A philosophy and methodology I also use in my private classes. Therefore they are dynamic and adapted to your personal needs.
Working in the Netherlands and Colombia in education and in several countries worldwide have allowed me to gain a variety of skill sets. These experiences also have provided me with the tools necessary for working abroad and online including adaptability, patience, dedication to my peer’s success, and respect for cultural and societal norms. Learning English as a second language from someone that is trained to teach the language like this and also once has learned the language herself as a second language (as my native language is Dutch), gives me a lot of benefits in comparison of learning the language from a native speaker.
Aside from this being my day to day job already for the past 10 years in Bilingual primary, middle and high schools, I started private classes to teach English as a second language in the afternoons. I am new to this platform as I haven't offered my services in the past through an official platform. With the recent changes worldwide I thought it is a good moment to focus more on online teaching and decided to dedicate all my time at the moment on online teaching. Therefore I have a wide availability Let me know which level you have and if there's anything specific you would like to focus on. I have experience in teaching all facets of the language.
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We found our first Dutch class with Lisa really helpful. She is very patient and made the class enjoyable. Looking forward to getting started :)
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We focused a lot on pronunciation of words and Linda was very helpful, particularly on all those Dutch sounds so difficult for foreigners!
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My name is Brenda and I am born in the Netherlands. At the moment I live in Nijmegen, the oldest city of the Netherlands. A lot of foreign students live here because it is a university city.
I have been interested in languages from an early age. That is why I have learned English, German, French and Spanish. But in my area I am mainly known for my excellent Dutch language skills and my eye for spelling and grammar.
Other things that interest me are cooking and baking and being creative. As a volunteer I have given guided tours and I have done workshops in both English and Dutch. I also love walking in nature or enjoying the beach and the sea!
I am currently learning Turkish, so I fully understand what you are experiencing as a language student. That’s why I am very patient. We practice as much as what you need. Is there something you don’t understand? Feel free to ask again, then we can approach the material in a different way so that it is clear for you.
I also know from experience how great it feels when you can communicate with someone in the local language! So let's go for this challenge together!
Your needs and progress as a student are central.
Please indicate before the first lesson what you would like to work on so that I can prepare myself for the lesson. A number of options are:
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Speaking, listening, reading and writing. Cultural and work-related topics.
- Beginners - Advanced (Personalized Lessons) Dutch
We can focus on every aspect of the language. When you want to learn from a book we can use your material or I will advise you which book you can purchase.
As a beginner you start with the basics, the alphabet and some basic words. We extend this so that you can start simple conversations in situations of everyday life and that you become an advanced!
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Brenda is a very friendly and easy-going teacher. She is very well-organised and flexible. During each lesson time just flies cause it's really enjoyable. I am an absolute beginner and I was afraid to start learning a new language from scratch but now I'm confident that I will make it. She can help you learn the language really fast with no stress or tension. Looking forward to my next lesson!
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My children really enjoy Lauren’s lessons. She is very kind and patient and chooses fun topics for them.
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Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Monique is a great teacher! She is making me improve a lot my speaking which is my focus, without disregarding the other skills
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Hello,
I'm offering informal Dutch and English lessons based on conversation and will conduct my lessons for as much as possible in the target language.
I use text, weblinks to tv shows to get us talking and am a fan of the TPRS method.
There's a lot of information on that method online. Basically it's getting to know the structure Dutch and English through simple conversation. (questions about 1 or several sentences on any topic)
I have some useful weblinks to tv shows in Dutch (with subtitles in Dutch) adjusted to your level and the shows are entertaining too. :-)
We can discuss the shows preferably in the target language of course.
I can explain some grammar too if needed and have articles and books ready to read from. This again will be adjusted to your proficiency. But of course if you'd like to focus on a topic which has your interest that is possible as well. This makes it more personal and more fun.
I've been teaching for about a year now on another platform to students from all over the world and really enjoy having the experience again as I used to be a vocal coach back in the days when I attended conservatory in the Netherlands.
I hope to see you here on Co language. :-)
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I am very satisfied with the lessons with Less. very understandable and interesting. highly recommend)
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**Other time slots can be made available upon request. Don't hesitate to get in touch**
Native speaker from Paris with about 15 years of teaching experience. I’m well-travelled, and I’ve lived and worked in different parts of the world (Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, Australia and a little bit in Asia).
I have a postgraduate degree (France) in Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies and I’m currently a freelance translator. I’ve previously worked at universities in France and abroad (South Africa/Australia) and have a solid experience in teaching (French Language, Literature, Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, etc.), designing courses, evaluating and guiding students, preparing students for exams/job interviews/professional presentations, managing a Language and Literature department at the university, presenting papers at academic conferences worldwide, publishing, translating and journalism. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach people with different profiles and from various backgrounds: international professionals, university students, beginner translators and teachers, high school students, retirees, travellers, francophiles, children (help with homework), etc.
Being an open-minded, flexible and patient teacher, I enjoy helping others to discover their potential and to explore it. Adapting myself to my students' needs, pace and objectives is essential for me, and designing the best way to work with each student is very stimulating and rewarding.
After the initial introductory lesson, I will design customised lesson plans that will evolve as you progress. We can also, at any time during the programme, change our working method if you wish to do so. I remain very flexible in that regard.
The learning materials will be varied, and we will choose together the themes and aspects of French language to be covered, in line with your objectives. In any case, I am very attentive in general, so please don't hesitate to make any suggestions.
Regardless of your level and objectives, I'm sure that we can find the best way possible to share and enjoy this French language adventure together.
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Priscilla is an very dynamic teacher. She adapts very quickly to my learning speed and subject matters that I would like to strengthen. She challenges me in the way I approach learning in a manner that is interesting for my style, and that enables me to learn quicker.
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Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
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Monique is an outstanding teacher. She is a person with a lot of energy, immense experience, structure and humor. I am very satisfied with her teaching methods. Monique has also expertise when it comes to career advices, proper motivation letter and CV. I am very happy with my lessons and I highly recommend her!
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Hi!
Are you looking for someone who can help you with the Dutch language? Then you've come to the right place. I have years of experience in teaching Dutch and Sociology to pupils aged 12 to 18 years. Maybe you have trouble with a certain part of the course Dutch, for example grammar, then I can help you with that. Together we will look at where the problem lies and what you would like to learn, together we determine what is the best way for you to learn certain skills. If you do not speak Dutch but you speak and English reasonably well, then I can also help you. I can help you to understand and learn the Dutch language and teach you about the Dutch culture / politics.
I hope to meet you soon and work together.
Kind regards,
Mèlanie van Bentum
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This was a trial lesson, thus not much to review. I liked the teacher for her communication and approach!
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Hello and nice to meet you!
My name is Laura Borger and I am a qualified language teacher. I have been teaching Dutch to young and old for the past seven years.
I have been teaching online for a year now and I love it. My students range from beginners to advanced, so I have collected tons of materials for all levels.
Also, at the University of Leiden I completed the Master Linguistics and the Master Education.
My lessons are based on the needs and interests of my students. For example, if you are in need of grammar, I will adjust my material accordingly. Or if you want to focus on speaking skills, I have tons of activities to develop this skill too!
My personal goal is to ensure that my classes are dynamic, active and fun! I use games, current topics and digital exercises and I feel the proudest when I can really observe the progress in my student's Dutch level.
I offer a free trial lesson of 25 minutes!
If this sounds good to you, press the button and we will see each other soon!
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Laura is a very kind teacher and very patient with the children. She helps when struggling. She is always on time and the classes are very well prepared
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Hello, my name is Claus !For many years I teach students from all over the world as a professional teacher of the German language. With a lot of experience and patience I lead my students to their to teach successfully and with fun. I offer you general language courses of B1- C2 with test preparations, as well as courses in Business German (prerequisites are language proficiency in German from level B1 +!).
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Claus has now been helping me to improve my German for a few weeks. Claus has a lot of experience as a teacher and he also has a large general culture. He always comes with interesting topics. The discussions help me to gain confidence, expand my vocabulary and correct some mistakes.
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