Introduction: Making a Good First Impression

Welcome to your first step in learning Dutch! Knowing how to greet people and say goodbye politely is fundamental in any language. In the Netherlands, using the right greeting shows respect and helps you connect with locals. This chapter covers the most common ways to say hello and goodbye for beginners (A1 level).

Common Greetings: Saying "Hello"

Dutch offers several ways to greet someone. The one you choose often depends on the situation and your relationship with the person.

• Hallo: This is the most versatile and common greeting, equivalent to "Hello" in English. You can safely use Hallo in almost any situation, whether it's meeting someone for the first time, greeting a shopkeeper, or saying hi to a neighbor. It's neither overly formal nor too informal.
• Example: You walk into a bakery and say, "Hallo!"

• Hoi: This is the informal version of "Hello," similar to "Hi" or "Hey" in English. Use Hoi with friends, family, children, and people your own age in casual settings. Avoid using it in very formal situations or with people you need to show significant respect to (like a high-level official).
• Example: You see a friend across the street and wave, shouting, "Hoi!"

• Goedendag: This is a more formal greeting, meaning "Good day." It's a safe and polite choice when addressing strangers, older people, officials, or in business contexts. While correct, it can sometimes sound a bit stiff in very casual situations among young people.
• Example: You enter a doctor's office and greet the receptionist with "Goedendag."

Time-Specific Formal Greetings: Like English, Dutch has greetings for different times of the day. These are generally considered polite and are variations of Goedendag:

• Goedemorgen: "Good morning." Used from early morning until about 12:00 PM (noon).
• Example: Greeting your teacher in the morning: "Goedemorgen, mevrouw Jansen."
• Goedemiddag: "Good afternoon." Used from around 12:00 PM until about 6:00 PM (18:00).
• Example: Entering a shop in the afternoon: "Goedemiddag!"
• Goedenavond: "Good evening." Used from about 6:00 PM onwards.
• Example: Meeting someone for dinner: "Goedenavond."

• Dag: This interesting word serves as both a greeting ("Hello") and a farewell ("Bye"). As a greeting, it's slightly more formal or neutral than Hallo. It's quite common and can be used in many situations, like greeting colleagues or acquaintances.
• Example: Passing a neighbour in the hallway: "Dag meneer De Vries."

Common Farewells: Saying "Goodbye"

Just as important as greetings are farewells. Here are the essential ways to say goodbye:

• Doei / Doeg: These are the most common informal ways to say "Bye." Similar to Hoi, use them with friends, family, and in casual situations. Doeg is a slightly softer variant.
• Example: Leaving a friend's house: "Doei! Tot morgen!" (Bye! See you tomorrow!)

• Tot ziens: This is a more formal way to say goodbye, literally meaning "Until we see each other again." It's the standard polite farewell in shops, restaurants, and more formal interactions. It's always a safe choice when you're unsure.
• Example: Leaving a store after making a purchase: "Dank u wel! Tot ziens!" (Thank you! Goodbye!)

• Dag: As mentioned earlier, Dag can also mean "Bye." As a farewell, it holds a similar neutral-to-slightly-formal tone as when used as a greeting. It's a versatile and common way to end a conversation or interaction.
• Example: Leaving the office at the end of the day: "Dag collega's!" (Bye colleagues!)