Today I am learning Dutch after a friend suggested it! I maybe should have learned German first, but here we are. Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and has many variants and dialects. The main language is known as Standard Dutch. Check out some Dutch basics below!
Dutch Basics
Hi, I am Krysta – Hallo ik heet Krysta
Nice to meet you – Leuk je the ontmoeten
Pleasure to meet you– Aangenaam
How are you? – Hoe gaat het?
I am doing good – Met mij gaat het goed.
Thank you – Bedankt
Thank you very much – Zeer Bedankt
You’re Welcome – Graag Gedaan
Hello– Hallo!
Bye – Doei! (Pronounced Doo-ey)
Yes – Ja
No– Nee
Excuse me, Do you speak English?– Pardon, spreekt u Engels
Fun Dutch Phrases
The best part of learning so many new languages this month, is learning the idioms that native speakers use. Of course they don’t typically translate as one would expect them to, making it hard to understand if you don’t know what they mean! Check out the best idioms below:
- Met de deur in huis vallen
- Literal Translation – To fall with the door into the house
- Actual Translation- To get straight to the point
- No komt de aap uit de mouw
- Literal Translation – Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve
- Actual Translation- To let the cat out of the bag (the moment the truth or secret is revealed)
- Met zijn neus in de boter vallen
- Literal Translation – To fall with your nose in butter
- Actual Translation- To be in the right place at the right time
- Wat heb ik nou aan mijn fiets hangen?
- Literal Translation: What have I got hanging on my bike now?
- Actual Translation: What’s going on? / What do I have to deal with now?
- Nu breekt mijn klomp!
- Literal Translation: Now my wooden shoe is breaking!
- Actual Translation: To be totally amazed or not expect something
Challenge yourself to use one next time you are in the Netherlands! You never know who you might impress with this knowledge!
xoxo
Krysta
