Learn Dutch

Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, also spoken in former Dutch colonies (Aruba, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Curaçao and more). Learning this European language is easy, so why not make an effort to understand the locals during your next trip to Amsterdam? We have picked the most useful words, verbs and phrases to help you start learning Dutch – for absolutely free.

Dutch Words

Learn most common Dutch words we have picked out for you, and you will understand some phrases and sentences you read in Dutch or hear from native speakers.

English	Dutch	Pronunciation
Yesterday	gisteren	GHIS-tuh-ruhn
Today	vandaag	vahn-DAHG
Tomorrow	morgen	MORE-ghun
The day after tomorrow	overmorgen	O-vuhr-more-ghun
Last week	vorige week	VOH-ruh-ghuh WAKE
This week	deze week	DAY-zuh WAKE
Next week	volgende week	VOL-ghun-duh WAKE
Monday	maandag	MAHN-dahg
Tuesday	dinsdag	DINSS-dahg
Wednesday	woensdag	WOONS-dahg
Thursday	donderdag	DON-duhr-dahg
Friday	vrijdag	VRAY-dahg
Saturday	zaterdag	ZAH-tuhr-dahg
Sunday	zondag	ZON-dahg
Black	zwart	ZWAHRT
White	wit	WHIT
Gray	grijs	GREYS
Red	rood	ROWT
Blue	blauw	BLAW
Yellow	geel	GHAYL
Green	groen	GHROON
Orange	oranje	oh-RAHN-yuh
Purple	paars	PAHRS
Brown	bruin	BRUYN
Coffee	koffie	coffee
Tea	thee	tay
Juice	sap	sahp
Soda water	spuitwater	SPUYT-wah-tuhr
Water	water	WAH-tuhr
Beer	bier	beer
Red/white wine	rode/witte wijn	ROH-duh/WIH-tuh waiyn

Dutch Phrases

These Dutch phrases help you start a basic conversation, ask and answer simple questions, and get round the city.

English	Dutch	Pronunciation
Hello	Hallo	HAH-low
How are you?	Hoe maakt u het?	hoo MAHKT uu hut?
Fine, thank you	Goed, dank u	GOOT dahnk uu
What is your name?	Hoe heet u?	hoo HAYT uu?
My name is ______	Mijn naam is ______	meyn NAHM is _____
Nice to meet you	Aangenaam kennis te maken	AHN-guh-nahm KEH-nis tuh MAH-kun
Please	Alstublieft	AHL-stuu-BLEEFT
Thank you	Dank u	DAHNK uu
You're welcome	Graag gedaan	GRAHG guh-DAHN
Yes	Ja	YAH
No	Nee	NAY
Excuse me	Neemt u mij niet kwalijk	naymt uu mey neet KWAH-luk
Goodbye	Tot ziens	TOT seens
I can't speak Dutch	Ik spreek geen Nederlands	ick SPRAYK gayn NAY-dur-lahnts
I can't speak Dutch well	Ik spreek niet goed Nederlands	ick SPRAYK neet goot NAY-dur-lahnts
Do you speak English?	Spreekt u Engels?	SPRAYKT uu ENG-uls?
Is there someone here who speaks English?	Spreekt hier iemand Engels?	SPRAYKT heer EE-mahnt ENG-uls?
Help!	Help!	HEHLP!
Good morning	Goedemorgen	GOO-duh-MORE-gun
Good afternoon	Goedemiddag	GOO-duh-MIH-dahgh
Good evening	Goedenavond	Goo-duh-NAH-vunt
Good night	Goede nacht	Goo-duh-NAHGt
Good night (to sleep)	Slaap lekker	SLAHP LECK-uhr
I don't understand	Ik begrijp het niet	ick buh-GRAYP hut neet
Where is the toilet?	Waar is het toilet?	wahr is hut twah-LET?
I need your help	Ik heb uw hulp nodig	ick HEP uu HULP noh-duhg
It's an emergency	Het is een noodgeval	hut IS uhn NOWT-guh-vahl
I'm lost	Ik ben verdwaald	ck BEN vuhr-DWAHLT
I need a doctor	Ik heb een dokter nodig	ick hep uhn DOCK-tuhr no-duhg
Can I use your phone?	Mag ik uw telefoon gebruiken?	MAHG ick uu tay-lay-PHOHN ghuh-BROWK-kuhn

Dutch Verbs

We have picked some common Dutch verbs to help you build your first sentences in Dutch. Tell your friends what you do, like and want in Dutch!

English	Dutch	English	Dutch
Yesterday	gisteren	GHIS-tuh-ruhn	gisteren
To ask	vragen	To buy	kopen
To close	sluiten	To come	komen
To cook	koken	To do	doen
To drink	drinken	To eat	eten
To give	geven	To go	gaan
To know	weten	To learn	leren
To listen	luisteren	To meet	voldoen
To open	openen	To read	lezen
To run	lopen	To say	zeggen
To see	zien	To sell	verkopen
To sit	zitten	To smile	lachen
To stand up	staan	To study	studeren
To swim	zwemmen	To take	nemen
To talk	praten	To teach	geven
To understand	begrijpen	To use	gebruiken

Dutch Culture

Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, and is also spoken in former Dutch colonies, including Aruba, Sint Maarten, Suriname Curaçao, Flanders, Sint Maarten and Suriname. The language is also understood and spoken by many people in Belgium. In some regions of Germany, Dutch dialects are spoken.

The Netherlands are nested on the seashore, and historically this was the land of ports, merchants and immigrants. All of these factors are reflected in the Dutch culture with its diversities and regional differences. In Dutch culture, diversity and tolerance are regarded as top values, so everyone feels comfortable in this country.

Over the centuries, Dutch culture has been known for advances in art, architecture, music, technology and literature. Dutch art is best known for the Dutch Golden Age painting that united a number of schools and artists, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Halsm, Joachim von Sandrart, Jan Steen, and many more. Later, the Netherlands became one of the centers for impressionism, with Vincent van Gogh being the most famous Dutch impressionist.

Many aspects of the Dutch culture, such as holidays, cuisine, traditions and preferred pastime vary significantly depending on the region – except, perhaps main Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, widely celebrated everywhere. When it comes to smaller occasions, the Netherlands boast a diverse culture, with a variety of local festivals, carnivals and traditions that differ from province to province. The best way to experience this country is to travel, which is especially exciting if you speak a bit of Dutch.