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Essential Dutch phrases
for travellers (printable)
how to say hello in dutch
Hallo — HAH-loh — is how you say hello in Dutch. It works at any hour, anywhere the language is spoken, with anyone. Pair it with Dank u wel (dahnk ew VEL) for thank you and you already have the two words you will use most.
Below are 36 phrases worth knowing before you land, grouped by the situation you will need them in. Every one has a plain-English respelling — stressed syllable in capitals — because IPA is no use to anyone standing at a pharmacy counter. The Netherlands, Belgium (as Flemish) and Suriname — around 25 million speakers, and the closest living relative of English after Frisian. Also searched as Netherlands, Holland, Belgium, Flemish.
take it with you
The whole card, on one page
All 36 phrases on a single sheet — print it, fold it into a passport, or keep it on your phone. Free, no signup, no watermark.
The essentials
The six words that carry most of a trip.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-lohGoedendag (GOO-dun-dahk) is the more formal daytime greeting. |
| Goodbye | Tot zienstot ZEENSDoei (DOO-ee) is the casual version. |
| Please | AlstublieftAHL-stew-bleeft |
| Thank you | Dank u weldahnk ew VEL |
| Yes / No | Ja / Neeyah / nay |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpar-DON |
Getting by
What to say when the conversation outruns you.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels?spraykt ew ENG-uls |
| I don't understand | Ik begrijp het nietik buh-GRAYP ut neet |
| Could you repeat that? | Kunt u dat herhalen?kunt ew dat hur-HAH-lun |
| Please speak slowly | Kunt u langzaam praten?kunt ew LAHNG-zahm PRAH-tun |
| My name is… | Ik heet…ik hayt |
| Nice to meet you | AangenaamAHN-guh-nahm |
Getting around
Streets, stations and the one question everyone needs.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | Waar is…?vahr is |
| How do I get to…? | Hoe kom ik bij…?hoo kom ik bay |
| Where is the toilet? | Waar is het toilet?vahr is ut twah-LET |
| Left / Right | Links / Rechtslinks / rekhts |
| Straight ahead | RechtdoorREKHT-dohr |
| Is it far? | Is het ver?is ut vehr |
Food and drink
Ordering, allergies, and asking for the bill.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Een tafel voor tweeun TAH-ful vohr tvay |
| The menu, please | De kaart, alstublieftduh kahrt |
| I would like… | Ik wil graag…ik vil grahkh |
| Water, please | Water, alstublieftVAH-tur |
| I am allergic to… | Ik ben allergisch voor…ik ben ah-LER-gees vohr |
| The bill, please | De rekening, alstublieftduh RAY-kuh-ning |
Shopping and money
Prices, cards, and politely not buying anything.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?HOO-vayl kost ut |
| That's too expensive | Dat is te duurdaht is tuh dewr |
| Do you take cards? | Kan ik pinnen?kahn ik PIN-nunPinnen is the Dutch verb for paying by card — you will hear it everywhere. |
| I am just looking | Ik kijk alleenik kayk ah-LAYN |
| Do you have…? | Heeft u…?hayft ew |
| A receipt, please | Een bonnetje, alstublieftun BON-nut-yuh |
Emergencies
Worth reading once before you need them.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Help! | Help!help |
| Call the police | Bel de politiebel duh poh-LEET-see |
| Call an ambulance | Bel een ambulancebel un ahm-bew-LAHN-suh |
| I need a doctor | Ik heb een dokter nodigik hep un DOK-tur NOH-dukh |
| I am lost | Ik ben verdwaaldik ben vur-DVAHLT |
| Where is the hospital? | Waar is het ziekenhuis?vahr is ut ZEE-kun-hoys |
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Four things that fix
most of the accent
The Dutch g is a throat rasp
g and ch are both scraped at the back of the throat — harder in the north, softer in Belgium. Goedemorgen is a workout. Nobody minds if you soften it.
ij is "ay"
Mijn is "mayn", wijn is "vayn", rijden is "RAY-dun". It is treated as a single letter and even has its own key on Dutch typewriters.
Pinnen is the verb for paying by card
Not a phrasebook word you would guess, and you will hear it constantly. "Kan ik pinnen?" is how you ask whether card is accepted. Many Dutch shops no longer take cash at all.
Everyone speaks excellent English
The Netherlands ranks first in the world for English proficiency among non-native countries. These phrases are a courtesy, not a necessity — and they are received as exactly that.
Spotted a mistake in the Dutch? Tell us and we will fix it.
You will not remember
all 36
Nobody does. OmniTalk speaks Dutch for you in real time — point the camera at a menu, or put the phone between you and let it translate both sides of the conversation as you talk. It works offline once you download the language, so it keeps going when your roaming does not.