Dutch conversation guide - Guia de conversação holandês

WARNING: It seems that someone, willingly but without a deep knowledge of the Dutch language, has translated everything with a dictionary. So there are still many mistakes left in this Dutch conversation guide (Netherlands is just a province!)

This article is a conversation guide .

Alphabet

pronunciation guide

Vowels

short vowels

The: as in Bush
and: as in Weight or Herb tea
i: as in tub
O: as in mouth
oh: u, as in mule
u: in between and and i
y: as in turns on

long vowels

y, yy: like 'aa' in caatinga
and, and,: as 'is' in faith
me: in between and and O, like O in german, or me in French
ie: i as in life
o, oo: O
oh: u
wow wow: in between i and u, like u in french or u in German

common diptongs

wow, or: wow, as in self
wow: me, as in lee
hey ij: Hey, as in assembly
iew: u, as in heat
hi: wow, unique in Portuguese (the The is closed before the u)

Consonants

(only the different ones)

ch/g: aspirated guttural sound, close to g/j Spanish
d: normal, but at the end of the word, it looks more like t
H: like in english
j: sound of i
no: normal but suppressed at the end of words
r: simple vibrant, as in expensive
sj: tea, as in tea
w: sound of u, as in english
x: sound of ok
y: sound of i

Phrase List

Basics

common boards

OPEN: Open
CLOSED: Gesloten
PROHIBITED: inrit, ingang
EXIT: uitrit, uitgang

(inrit/uitrit: garage only => driveway or driveway)

PUSH: Duwen
PULL: Trekken.
BATHROOM: toilet
MEN: heren
WOMEN: dames

(The word 'Vrouwen' is just the literal translation of 'women', but you don't write that on the bathroom boards)

FORBIDDEN: verboden

Good Morning.: goedendag (generally). Goedemorgen (in the morning until 12 o'clock)
Hello.: Hey! (among young people, very informal)/ Hallo (generally uninformal)
Thanks.: dank u/ dank je. ( the 'u' word is formal; 'je' is informal)
How are you doing?: . (Hoe gaat het?)
well thank you: Goed, dank u. ( The word 'u' is pronounced like ü in German )
Alright.: . (alles is goed)
What is your name?: . (Hoe heet u?/Hoe heet je? )
(My name is ______ .: . (Mijn naam is ______ )
Nice to meet you.: Aangenaam kennis te maken. ( very, very formal, even ancient language, from the museum )
With pleasure!: Aangenaam! (upon meeting) Thank you! (other situations) Met plezier! (literally) Tot genoegen! (in the Flemish lands)

(in Belgium, the Dutch language is different, as are the differences in Portuguese between Portugal and Brazil)

Please.: . (Alstublieft. )
You're welcome.: . (Graag gedaan )
Yes.: . ( Already)
No.: . ( nee)
Excuse: Neemt u mij niet kwalijk! (to get past the people blocking the ride) /

met permissie / met vergunning (literal translation, but not used as in Portugal) /

Mag ik even uw aandacht? (to ask for the attention of people in front of you before giving a speech)

Pardon me.: . ( het spijt me.)
Excuse me.: . ( sorry)Default:StayIn
Pardon.: . (pardon)
Goodbye. (formal): . (Dag)
Goodbye. (informal): I donated. ( Very fashionable since the 1990s, this word 'doei' is an ugly violation of the word 'Houdoe', the emblematic word in the province of Brabant; It's better to use 'tot ziens' instead of ugly 'doei' )
See you soon.: . (tot ziens )
I don't speak Dutch (Dutch is not the official name of the language; Netherlands is only a part of the country).: Ik spreek geen Nederlands .
Speak English?: Spreekt u Engels?. ( Almost all Dutch people can speak English and outside the capital Amsterdam they love to help tourists, but those who come to live in the country have to learn the language and integrate into society )
Is there anyone here who speaks Portuguese?: Is it hier iemand die Portugees spreekt? ( Outside the big cities, where immigrants live, it is easier to win a lottery than to find a Portuguese speaker )
Help!: . ( Help!)
Good Morning.: Goedemorgen. ( from 6 am to 12 pm )
Good afternoon.: Goedemiddag. ( from 12:00 to 18:00 )
Goodnight.: Goedenavond. ( from 18h to 24h )
Goodnight.: Goedenacht. ( from 12 am to 6 am )
I do not understand.: . (Ik begrijp het niet )
Where is the restroom, please)?: Waar is het toilet, (alstublieft)?. ( Forgetting 'alstublieft' is like treating someone like a dog; Show your good manners, especially by asking for a favor, like access to the bathroom. In Portugal there are toilets in every shop, but in the Netherlands they are much rarer on the street )

Problems

Leave me alone.: . ( Laat met me rust )
Do not touch me!: . ( raak me niet aan )
I call the police.: Ik bel de politie (bellen = call by phone). / Ik roep de politie (roepen = call out loud)
Police!: POLITIES. (The police are absent due to lack of government funding)
For! Thief!: Houd die dief tegen! ( Stop, dief! )
I need your help.: Ik heb jouw hulp nodig. (Please look in the grammar booklet to learn the difference between 'jou' / 'u' and 'jouw' / 'uw' - common mistake, even among Dutch people, who don't understand the difference between personal pronoun and possessive pronoun)
It's an emergency.: . ( Het is een spoedgeval )
I'm lost.: . ( ik ben verdwaald )
I lost my suitcase [purse].: . ( Ik ben mijn koffer[tas] kwijt )
I lost my wallet.: . ( Ik ben mijn portemonee kwijt )
I am sick.: . ( Ik ben ziek )
I'm hurt/da.: . ( Ik ben gewond )
I need a doctor.: . ( Ik heb een dokter nodig )
Can I use your phone?: Mag ik alstublieft uw telefoon gebruiken?. ( The word 'jou' is a personal pronoun, for the informal form)

Some Marisia Janssen left her name (and grammatical errors?) here on 23/04/2008 (against the habits of the Wiki community)

Numbers

0: . (null )
1: . (eh )
2: . (tweet )
3: . (drie )
4: . (come )
5: . (vijf )
6: . (ze )
7: . (zeven )
8: . (acht )
9: . (boy )
10: . (tien )
11: . (elf )
12: . (twaalf)
13: . (dertien)
14: . (veertien)
15: . (vijftien)
16: . (zestien)
17: . (zeventien)
18: . (achttien)
19: . (negentien)
20: . (twintig)
21: . (eenentwintig)
22: . (tweeëntwintig)
23: . (drieëntwintig)
30: . (dertig)
40: . (veertig)
50: . (vijftig)
60: . (zestig )
70: . (zeventig)
80: . (tachtig)
90: . (neglect)
100: . (honderd )
200: . (tweet )
300: . ( driehonderd)
400: . (vierhonderd')
500: . ( vijfhonderd|)
600: (zechonderd)
700: (zevenonded)
800: (achthonderd)
900: (negenhonderd)
1000: (dozen)
2000: (tweet)
3000: (dried serving)
4000: (vierduize)
5000: (vijfduize)
1,000,000: . (1 miljoen)
1.000.000.000: (1 miljard)
number _____ (train/train, bus/bus, etc.): nummer
half: helf
quite: half
any less: minder
more: meer

Parts of the day

now: naked
later: swim/daarna (the correct translation depends on the context)
before: voordat
morning: ochtend (6am - 12pm)
afternoon: middag (12:00 - 18:00; because the hours are counted differently than in Portugal)
night: avond (18h - 24h)
night: nacht (0h - 6u)

hours

one in the morning: één uur's ochtends
two o'clock in the morning: twee uur's ochtends
noon: middag
one o'clock p.m: één uur's middags
two o'clock in the afternoon: twee uur's middags
three thirty in the afternoon: half come's middags
midnight: middernacht

Duration

_1___ minute(s): minuut (minuten)
__2 hours): uur (uren)
__3 days): dag(en)
___4 weeks): week (weken)
____9_month(months): maand(en)
_____5 years): jaar (jaren)

Days

today: vandaag
yesterday: gisteren
tomorrow: morgen
this week: ten week
last week: verleden week
next week: weekend week

Sunday: zondag
Monday: maandag
Tuesday: dinsdag
Wednesday: woensdag
Thursday: donderdag
Friday: vrijdag
Saturday: zaterdag

months

January: januari
February: februari
March: marart
April: april
May: mei
June: juni
July: july
August: augustus
September: september
October: oktober
November: november
December: december

write time and date

September 21, 2005: 21 september 2005
September twenty-first, two thousand five: eenentwintig september tweeduizend en vijf

Colors

black: zwart
White: wit
Grey: grijs
Red: rood/wheel
blue: blauw
yellow: geel
green: green
Orange: orange
purple: purper
Violet: violet
pink: pink
brown/brown: bruin

Transport

On public transport in the Netherlands the use of the 'Chipkaart' is mandatory. It is necessary to find out before the trip how it works. It seems to be done to annoy tourists who do not speak the language of the country. Since 2017, the first public transport companies in the Amsterdam region will no longer accept coins in order to avoid theft. Other companies will follow this example in 2018.

bus and train

How much does a ticket to _____ cost?: Hoeveel kost een rit naar _____?
A ticket to _____, please.: Enkele rit naar _____, alstublieft.
Where does the train/bus go?: Waar gaat by tram/bus naartoe?
Where does the train/bus stop for _____?: Waar stopt de tram naar _____?
Does this train/bus stop at _____?: Stopt ten tram in _____?
When does the train/bus leave for _____?: Wanneer vertrekt de tram naar _____?
When does this train/bus arrive at _____?: Wanneer komt ten tram naar _____ aan?

Directions

How am I going to _____?: Hoe ga ik _____ ?
...to the train/train station?: naar het station?
...to the bus/bus station?: naar het busstation?
...to the airport?: naar of luchthaven?
...in the middle?: naar het centrum?
...to the youth hostel?: naar from jeugdherberg?
...to hotel _____?: naar het hotel?
...to a nightclub/bar/party?: . ()
...to an Internet cafe?: . ()
...to the Brazilian/Portuguese consulate?: naar het Braziliaanse/Portugese consulaat?

Where there are many/many...: Waar zijn er vele ...
...hotels?: hotels?
...restaurants?: restaurants?
...bars?: bars?
...places to visit?: plaatsen om te bezoeken/bezienswaardigheden?
...women?: vrouwen?

Can you show me on the map?: Kan u het mij tonen op de kaart?
road: of straat
Turn left.: Sla links af.
Turn right.: Sla rechts af.
left: Links.
right: Rechts.
always forward: Altijd rechtdoor.
towards _____: In de richting van _____.
after _____: at
before _____: grandma
Look for _____.: Zoek ______.
crossing: kruispunt
north: Noord
south: Zuid
East: ost
West: west
climb: stijging
descent: daling

Taxi

Taking a taxi in the Netherlands costs up to 5 times more than in Portugal: it only takes 7km by taxi to pay 30 Euros; You can't imagine the price from another city to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Taxi!: Taxi!
Take me to _____, please.: . ()
How much does it cost to go to _____?: . ()
Take me there, please.: . ()
Follow that car!: . ()
Try not to run over any pedestrians.: . ()
Stop looking at me this way!: . ()
Ok, let's go.: . ()

Accommodation

Do you have rooms available?: . ()
How much does a room cost for one/two person(s)?: Hoeveel is het een kamer voor een persoon/twee personen?
The room has...: . ()
...linen?: . ()
...a bathtub?
...a phone?: een phone
...a TV?: een TV
Can I see the room first?: . ()
Is there something calmer?: . ()
...larger?: . ()
...cleaner?: . ()
...cheaper?: . ()
OK, I get it.: . ()
I will stay _____ night(s).: . (
Can you suggest another hotel?: . ()
Do you have a safe?: . ()
...locks?: . ()
Is breakfast/dinner included?: . ()
What time is breakfast/dinner?: Hoe laat is het ontbijt/middageten?
Please clean my room.: . ()
Can you wake me up at _____?: Roep me alstublieft om____uur
I want to check out.: . ()

Money

Do you accept US/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Accepteert u Amerikaanse/Australische/Canadese dollars? ( the 'yes' answer is unlikely outside tourist areas. )
Do you take pounds sterling?: Neemt u ook Britse Ponden aan? ( Perhaps, if you accept a very bad exchange rate... )
Do you accept credit cards?: Accepteert u credit cards?'(Almost no one speaks like that)
Can I pay with credit card?: Kan ik met credit card betalen? (the most common form of this question)
Can you change me money?: Kunt u geld voor mij wisselen? ( the 'yes' answer is unlikely. )
Where can I change money?: Waar kan ik geld wisselen? ( We have had the Euro for years now, as it is very difficult to exchange US Dollars; you can't even imagine real ones from Brazil! Many banks no longer have physical cash. Foreign money is exchanged very little and it will be even more difficult without an account)
Can you exchange me a traveler's check: Kunt u voor mij een reischeque wisselen? ( It is necessary to find out before the trip, if there is still such a possibility, because traveler checks are out of fashion )
Where can I exchange a traveler's check (a Traveler's Cheque)?: Waar kan ik een re-check wisselen? ( Perhaps, Western Union is the last possibility, but outside the big cities, where immigrants live, it is no longer possible to exchange traveler's checks.)
What is the exchange rate?: Wat is from wisselkoers?
Where do you have an ATM?: Waar is er hier een geldautomaat? ( Banks close boxes and workshops in villages. There are automatic teller machines in supermarket stores such as Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Plus)
Where is there a supermarket of the brand...?: Waar is er hier een supermarkt van ... ?

food

A table for one/two person(s), please.: Een tafel voor een persoon/twee personen, alstublieft!
Can I see the menu, please?
Can I see the kitchen, please?: . ()
Is there a house specialty?: . ()
Is there a local specialty?: . ()
I'm a vegetarian.: Ik ben vegetarisch
I don't eat pork.: . ()
Just like kosher.: . ()
Can you make it "lighter", please?: . ()
half portion: . ()
a portion: . ()
fixed price meal: . ()
à la carte: . ()
breakfast: ontbijt
lunch: lunch
snack: haje
to have lunch: middageten
bag: . ()
bakery: . ()
I want _____.: Ik wil_
I want a plate of _____.: . ()

Beef: . (fles )
chicken: . ( kip)
beef: biefstuk
fish: vis
ham: ha
sausage: worst
barbecue: . ()

Vegetables (fresh): . ()
potato: . ()
onion: . ()
carrot: . ()
mushroom: . ()
cucumber: . ()
tomato: . ()
salad: . ()

fruit (fresh): Fruiten(vers)
pineapple/pineapple: ananas
banana: banana
Cherry: . ()
Orange
lemon: citron
Apple: appel
Strawberry: aardbei
wait . ( pen)
peach: . ()

Others . ()
bread: brown
toast: . ()
pasta: . ()
rice: rijst. ()
whole grain: . ()
bean: bonen
cheese: kaas
eggs): hey(ren)
salt: . ()
black pepper: . ()
butter: boat . ()

Drinks: . ('drink' )
Want a cup of _____?: Ik wil een kop
Want a cup of _____?: Ik wil een kopje____
Want a _____ bottle?: . ()
coffee: koffie
tea: thee
juice: . ()
sparkling water: . ()
Water: water
beer: bier
milk: melk
soda: frisdrank . ()
red/white wine: wijn
with no: met/zonder . ()
ice: ijs
sugar: suiker
sweetener: . ()

Can you give me _____?: . ()

Sorry, waiter?: Het spijt me, kelder/ober?
I'm done.: . ()
I'm full.: . ()
It was delicious.: From maaltijd was erg lekker!
Please remove the dishes.: . ()
Check please.: From afrekenen, alstublieft!

bars

Do they serve alcohol?: . ()
Is there table service?: . ()
One beer/two beers, please.: Eén bier/twee biertjes, alstublieft!
A glass (two glasses) of red/white wine, please.: Eén glas (twee glazen) rode/witte wijn, alstublieft!
A mug, please.: . ()
A can/bottle, please.: . ()
whiskey: . ()
vodka: . ()
rum: . ()
Water: water
club soda: . ()
tonic water: . ()
Orange juice: . ()
Coke: . ()
Do you have appetizers?: . ()
One more please.: . ()
One more round, please.: . ()
What time do they close?: . ()

Purchases

Do you have this in my size?: . ()
How much?: . ()
Is very expensive.: . ()
Accepted _____?: . ()
expensive: . ()
cheap: . ()
I do not have enough money.: . ()
I do not want.: . ()
You're deceiving me.: . ()
I'm not interested.: . ()
OK, I will.: . ()
Can I have a bag?: . ()
Ship to other countries?: . ()

Need...: . ()
...toothpaste.: . ()
...Toothbrush.: . ()
...caps.: . ()
...soap.: . ()
...shampoo.: . ()
...aspirin.: . ()
...cold medicine.: . ()
...medicine for stomach pains.: . ()
...a blade.: . ()
...a umbrella: . ()
...sunscreen.: . ()
...a post card: . ()
... (postage stamps).: . ()
...stacks.: . ()
...plastic bags.: . ()
...string.: . ()
...Scotch tape. . ()
...writing paper.: . ()
...a pen.: . ()
...books in English.: . ()
...a magazine in Portuguese.: . ()
...a newspaper in Portuguese.: . ()
...an English-Portuguese dictionary.: . ()

To drive

I want to rent a car.: . ()
Can I take out insurance?: . ()
Stop (in a sign): . ()
Oops!: . ()
one way: . ()
prohibited parking: . ()
speed limit: . ()
gas station: . ()
Gasoline: . ()
diesel/diesel: . ()
subject to towing: . ()

Authority

It's his/her fault!: . ()
It's not what it looks like.: . ()
I can explain everything.: . ()
I didn't do anything wrong.: . ()
I swear I didn't do anything Your Guard.: . ()
It was a mistake.: . ()
Where are you taking me?: . ()
Am I detained?: . ()
I am a Brazilian/Portuguese citizen.: . ()
I want to speak with the Brazilian/Portuguese consulate.: . ()
I want to talk to a lawyer.: . ()
Can I post bail now?: . ()
Do you accept a bribe/kickback/beer?: Accepteert u steekpenningen/zwijggeld/een fooi/geld voor een biertje? ( Strictly prohibited question! I don't know if the police in Brazil are so corrupt, but as a general rule, putting this question in front of the police in the Netherlands will bring a lot more problems!!! )

Love?

I like you: Ik come jou leuk (attractive) / lief (lovable)
you are a serious/nice person: U bent een serieus/sympathiek persoon
You are a nice uncle (cool in english): Jij bent een coole spent (among young people it is very common to touch a lot of English in Dutch, but in the end it is seen as language poverty.)
What a nice skirt you have (the lady)!: Wat heeft u een mooie rok aan (mevrouw)!
You have beautiful eyes, you know?: Je hebt mooie ogen, weet je dat?
That you have well-combed hair (I ask for help with/sorry for my Portuguese): Wat zit je haar leuk!
Are you/are you married/married?: Bent u getrouwd?
Do you/Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?: Heb jij/Hebt u een vriend/vriendin?
Do you live/Do you live together(/-a) or am I alone?: Woont u/Woon jij samen, of alleen?
Are you just my dream, or reality?: Ben jij alleen mijn droom, of ben je echt?
Can I give you a hug/a kiss?: Mag ik je een knuffel/kusje geven?
I became boyfriend(/-a) with you (you, in Brazil): Ik ben verliefd op jou (u, in Belgium)
Do you want to dance with me?: Wilt u met mij dansen, mevrouw? (using this formal form among young people can kill in the atmosphere, because the formal form is often used only for older people.)
Hi, do you like dancing?: Hoi, heb je zin om te dansen?
Can I invite you for a massage?: Mag ik u uitnodigen voor een massage?
Will you sleep with me tonight?: Blijf je vannacht bij me slapen?
I want to make love to you: Ik zou graag met jou vrijen (the expression 'de liefde bedrijven' is the literal translation, but it is used only in poetry and ancient literature)
Do you have a condom?: Heb je een condoom?
I don't make love without a condom because I want to live healthy: Ik vrij niet zonder condoom, want ik wil graag gezond leven
kiss me here/there please: kus me hier/daar, alsjeblieft
Oh, I like this, go on!: Ah, dat vind ik lekker, ga door!
I want you: Ik hou van jou (Netherlands) Ik zie u graag (Belgium)
With you want to go back old(/a): Met jou wil ik oud worden!

tell me the truth please: zeg me from waarheid, alsjeblieft
What do you feel for me?: Wat voel je voor mij?
Do you intend to stay with me, seriously?: Heb je serieus de bedoeling om bij mij te blijven?
Or do you like me, just for my body?: Of vind je mij alleen leuk vanwege mijn lichaam?
Do you want to stay with me for many years, or just this weekend?: Wil je voor jaren bij me blijven, of alleen dit weekeinde?
I have a big crush on you, but I don't know if I'm so boyfriend: Ik voel een grote passie voor jou, maar ik weet niet of ik zo erg verliefd ben
I'm not dating you, but very luxurious: Ik ben niet verliefd op jou, maar wel heel erg geil
It doesn't matter, I know there's no future between us: Dat geeft niet, ik weet dat er tussen ons geen toekomst is
Let us take advantage of the short time we have together: Laat ons genieten van de weinige tijd die ons nog samen rest

Sorry, but you don't like people who smoke: Sorry, maar ik hou niet van mensen die roken
I already have a boyfriend / girlfriend: Ik heb al een vriendje / een vriendin
You are doing (too) too fast for me: Je gaat (veel) te snel voor mij
Haven't you, by any chance, forgotten to brush your teeth / take a shower?: Ben je misschien toevallig vergeten om je tanden te poetsen / een douche te nemen?
Please stop reading this conversational guide in bed.: Houd eens op om die taalgids in bed te lezen, alsjeblieft
Have you never studied a book about sexuality?: Heb je nooit een boek over seksualiteit bestudeerd?
You only think about yourself and forget about my pleasure: Je denkt alleen maar aan jezelf en je vergeet mijn plezier
Can we become friends (Platonic)?: We kunnen toch gewoon (platonische) vrienden zijn?
Do not touch me: Raak me niet aan / Blijf van me af! (Warning to Brazilian men: the boundaries between a loving gesture and sexual intimidation are very different for women in northern Europe compared to tropical regions. It's better to behave like a 'gentleman' and invite the lady to dance, which Dutch men can't)
It will make you fuck!!!: Sodemieter op!!! / Hoepel op!!! (If you touch a woman who doesn't want it, she can turn violent, even in front of a man, even using the heels of her shoe as knives!)
I don't want to see you anymore: Ik wil je nooit meer zien

2013 version, with lots of bugs (no one made corrections)