Dutch phrases and expressions you can learn today

Start learning the most common Dutch phrases

● A Language of Rich Culture: Dutch is expressive and deeply rooted in history, reflecting the Netherlands' impact on international trade, art, and innovation.

● Learn Basic Phrases: Discovering a few essential Dutch expressions, like Hallo (Hello) or Dank je wel (Thank you), can enrich your understanding and enjoyment of Dutch culture.

● Efficient Learning: Dutch has many sentences and structures, but you only need a small portion to become conversationally fluent.

● Quick Progress: Knowing just 100 words, such as alstublieft (please) and tot ziens (goodbye), can help you comprehend 50% of Dutch texts.

● Engage with Ease: You don’t need to be perfect to have genuine conversations with native Dutch speakers—just a foundational vocabulary goes a long way.

The secret is to learn Dutch the smart way. Start with the most common Dutch phrases and expressions and build from there. Learning sentence after sentence, you'll feel one step closer to fluency. Then, to lock the knowledge in, use the Dutch sentences you learned in real conversations. So, why not make the first step towards learning Dutch today? Let's go over some common sentences in Dutch you can learn right now. These are just a fraction of the phrases spoken by native Dutch speakers you can listen to on Mondly, our highly rated language learning app loved by millions of people around the world.

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Top 10 Dutch phrases and sentences you need to know

We have prepared a list of common Dutch expressions that will help you have a basic conversation in Dutch in no time. Let's dig in!

1. Goede morgen. = Good morning.
Sometimes, all you need to start the day right is a good coffee and someone greeting you with a smile. "Good morning!"
Now enjoy being greeted by a native Dutch speaker:
Goede morgen.
2. Goede middag. = Good afternoon.
But what if it's later in the day and you want to greet someone from the Netherlands? Well, ""Good afternoon"" in Dutch is ""Goedemiddag"".
Now listen to how a Dutch speaker would pronounce it:
Goede middag.
3. Mijn naam is Mondly. = My name is Mondly.
Let's say your name is Mondly, you are traveling to the Netherlands and meet someone on the street. To introduce yourself you can say ""Mijn naam is Mondly"" which means ""My name is Mondly"" in Dutch.
Listen to how a person from the Netherlands would pronounce this phrase:
Mijn naam is Mondly.
4. Aangenaam kennis te maken. = I'm pleased to meet you.
Now that you have introduced yourself, a Dutch speaker would respond "Aangenaam kennis te maken" which means "I'm pleased to meet you" in Dutch.
Listen to a native Dutch speaker saying that exact sentence to you right now:
Aangenaam kennis te maken.
5. Hoe gaat het? = How are you?
At this point, it might be polite to ask the person you are having a conversation with "How are you?" in Dutch.
It's really easy to pronounce. Here's how to say it:
Hoe gaat het?
6. Goed, dank je. En met jou? = Fine, thanks. And you?
If, on the other hand, a Dutch speaker asks you first how you're doing, this is how you can answer politely. Apply the unspoken rule of politeness everywhere you go in the Netherlands, and many doors shall joyously open in your path.
Here's a native speaker showing you how to say it:
Goed, dank je. En met jou?
7. Ik wil graag een biertje. = I’d like a beer.
And because you might find yourself in a café when visiting the Netherlands, you might want to learn how to order a beer in Dutch.
Let a native Dutch speaker show you how it's done:
Ik wil graag een biertje.
8. Het spijt me. = I'm sorry.
There are times when what you ordered is out of stock, so a bartender might say ""I'm sorry"" which means ""Het spijt me"" in Dutch.
Listen to how it's pronounced:
Het spijt me.
9. Tot gauw! = See you soon!
A suitable way to say ""See you soon"" in Dutch, particularly if you're addressing a colleague and expecting to see them the following day, is ""Tot morgen"" (see you tomorrow). This phrase is appropriate for a professional environment and is commonly used in the Netherlands.
Delight your senses with a Dutch speaker saying the phrase:
Tot gauw!
10. Tot ziens. = Goodbye.
Let's end with the best way to conclude a pleasant conversation politely. This is another way of saying ""Goodbye"" in Dutch.
Here's how a person from the Netherlands would pronounce it:
Tot ziens.

Did you know?

Dutch landmark

● “Ga!” - Means “Go!” and is used to prompt someone to start an action or movement.

● “Ik ben het” - Translates to “It’s me.” Commonly used to confirm your identity when someone is looking for you.

● “Hè?” - A short expression meaning “Huh?” Used to show confusion or ask for clarification.

● “Hoi!” - An informal greeting similar to “Hi!” often used among friends.

The benefits of learning the most common Dutch phrases first

Enhance your cognitive skills day by day

Learning a new language is an excellent way to boost your IQ. In no time, your brain will make new connections and associations, and you'll feel that learning Dutch was one of the best choices you ever made.

Engage in real Dutch conversations today

Once you start learning a few basic sentences in Dutch, you'll have the knowledge to start your first Dutch conversation. That's why, at Mondly, we've created experiences that simulate real-life conversations to get you speaking Dutch in no time.

Become fluent in Dutch quicker

Starting with the basics, we quickly lay a foundation for you to learn more complex Dutch phrases and sentences. We gradually build your Dutch knowledge so you get fluent faster than you could imagine.

Experience how easy learning the Dutch language can be

Every language experience should start gradually, from the easiest to the more complex concepts. Starting with the easiest and most common Dutch phrases, you will feel confident in your ability to learn a new language. That's one of the core principles Mondly is built on.