Dutch · A2 (Elementary)
Greetings in Dutch: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Dutch words for greetings are Goedemiddag (Good afternoon), Tot later (See you later) and Neemt u mij niet kwalijk (Excuse me (very formal)). The full Dutch greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Dutch vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Dutch to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key greetings vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Goedemiddag | Good afternoon |
| Tot later | See you later |
| Neemt u mij niet kwalijk | Excuse me (very formal) |
| Mag ik u voorstellen aan | May I introduce you to |
| Aangenaam kennis te maken | Pleased to meet you |
| Van harte welkom | Heartily welcome |
| Hoe maakt u het? | How do you do? (formal) |
| Prettige dag nog | Have a nice day |
| Mijn visitekaartje | My business card |
| Het is me een genoegen | It's my pleasure |
Example sentences
Hoe maakt u het? Uitstekend, dank u.
How do you do? Excellent, thank you.
Mag ik u voorstellen aan mijn collega Jan?
May I introduce you to my colleague Jan?
Aangenaam kennis te maken, meneer Jansen.
Pleased to meet you, Mr Jansen.
Hier is mijn visitekaartje.
Here is my business card.
Tot ziens, prettige dag nog!
Goodbye, have a nice day!
Het is me een genoegen u te ontmoeten.
It's my pleasure to meet you.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Dutch that actually sticks.
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