Basic phrases in Dutch

Basic Dutch Phrases for Beginners

Learning a few basic Dutch phrases is one of the best ways to start feeling at home in the Netherlands. Whether you’re moving, traveling, or just visiting, knowing how to greet people, say thank you, or ask for help in Dutch will make your stay easier and more enjoyable.

In cities across the Randstad area — including Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht — most people speak English fluently. However, if you live or travel outside this region, you’ll quickly notice that speaking a little Dutch helps you connect better with locals and understand daily life more deeply.

Below, you’ll find a list of the most useful Dutch words and phrases for beginners, along with simple phonetic spellings to help you pronounce them correctly.

Essential Dutch Phrases You Should Know

BASIC DUTCH PHRASES
ENGLISH	DUTCH	PHONETIC SPELLING
Yes / No	Ja / Nee	yah / nee
Thank you	Dank u wel / Bedankt	dahnk oo vel
Please	Alstublieft	ahl-stuh-bleeft
I don’t understand	Ik begrijp het niet	ik buh-grayp het neet
Do you speak English?	Spreekt u Engels?	spraykt oo eng-uhls?
I don’t speak Dutch	Ik spreek geen Nederlands	ik sprayk hayn nay-duhr-lahnts
Good morning	Goede morgen	khoot-uh mor-ghun
Good afternoon	Goede middag	khoot-uh mid-dahkh
Good evening / Good night	Goede avond / Goede nacht	khoot-uh ah-vont / khoot-uh nakht
Goodbye	Tot ziens / Dag	toht zeens / dahkh
How are you?	Hoe gaat het met u?	hoo gaht het met oo?
Excuse me	Neem me niet kwalijk, alstublieft	neem muh neet kwa-lick
Sorry	Het spijt me	het spayt muh
Can you help me?	Kunt u mij helpen?	kunt oo may help-uhn
I would like…	Ik zou graag…	ik zow graakh
Where can I get…?	Waar kan ik… krijgen?	waar kan ik kray-ghun
How much does it cost?	Hoeveel is het?	hoo-veyl is het
Where are the restrooms?	Waar zijn de toiletten?	waar zayn duh twa-let-uhn
What time is it?	Hoe laat is het?	hoo laht is het
I have to go	Ik moet nu gaan	ik moot noo gahn
Go away (leave me alone)	Ga weg!	gah wekh
Cheers!	Proost!	prohst

If you want to learn Dutch fast, try to practice these expressions daily. Use them when shopping, greeting your neighbors, or ordering in a café. Locals always appreciate the effort!

Even though most Dutch people speak English, using simple words in their language shows respect for their culture and can open many doors — from friendships to job opportunities.

Practice a few words every day — and soon, Dutch will start sounding familiar!

We don’t aim to teach full Dutch lessons here. If you want to see more basic phrases in Dutch, you can visit these links on our page: