How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Dutch words on “Politeness and small talk”. The full topic holds 129 in the KoKo app: 51 at the easy level, 45 at the medium level and 33 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Dutch vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Dutch vocabulary: greetings and polite phrases

Hello, thank you, please, sorry, see you soon: the polite Dutch phrases for greeting, thanking and starting a conversation.

Here are 100 Dutch words on “Politeness and small talk”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 39 words

Dutch	English
na u	after you
proost	cheers
veel succes	good luck
welterusten	good nightWhen parting to go to sleep
tot ziens	goodbye
fijne verjaardag	happy birthday
gelukkig nieuwjaar	happy New Year
fijne avond	have a good eveningWhen leaving someone early in the evening
goedendag	helloGreeting on arrival, during the day
hoi	hiInformal greeting
hoe zeg je	how do you say
ik weet het niet	I do not know
ik begrijp het niet	I do not understand
het geeft niet	it does not matter
sterkte	keep it up
voelt u zich thuis	make yourself at home
kan ik u helpen	may I help you
nee	no
geen probleem	no problem
geen dank	not at all
natuurlijk	of course
akkoord	okay
een ogenblik	one moment
tot straks	see you shortly
tot gauw	see you soon
des te beter	so much the better
het spijt me	sorryApology
bedankt	thank you
dat is jammer	that is a pity
kennismaken	to get acquainted
voorstellen	to introduce
zich voorstellen	to introduce oneself
tot de volgende keer	until next time
pas op	watch out
wat betekent	what does it mean
nog nieuws	what is new
met plezier	with pleasureEnthusiastic acceptance
ja	yes
graag gedaan	you are welcomeEveryday use

Level 2: medium 35 words

Dutch	English
verontschuldiging	apology
beste wensen	best wishes
gesprek	conversation
zou u kunnen	could you
discussie	discussion
spreekt u Engels	do you speak English
eet smakelijk	enjoy your meal
neemt u mij niet kwalijk	excuse me
vaarwel	farewell
volgt u mij	follow me
beterschap	get well soon
goedenavond	good eveningGreeting on arrival, from late afternoon onwards
handdruk	handshake
fijn weekend	have a good weekend
helpt u mij	help me
ik wil graag	I would like
introductie	introduction
uitnodiging	invitation
vrolijk kerstfeest	merry Christmas
langzamer	more slowly
jammer dan	never mind
alstublieft	please
aangenaam kennis te maken	pleased to meet you
verwijt	reproach
duizendmaal dank	thanks a million
dat is aardig	that is kind
zich verontschuldigen	to apologise
iemand aanspreken	to approach someone
groeten	to greet
uitnodigen	to invite
wensen	to wish
ontvangst	welcomeNoun, the act of receiving someone
wat jammer	what a shame
hoe heet u	what is your name
tot uw dienst	you are welcomeFormal register

Level 3: hard 26 words

Dutch	English
staat u mij toe	allow me
ongemakkelijke stilte	awkward silence
komt u binnen	come in
troost	comfort
compliment	compliment
aanmoediging	encouragement
formele aanspreekvorm	formal address
begroeting	greeting
hallo	helloOn the phone, when picking up
wacht u even	hold on
onbeleefd	ill mannered
misverstand	misunderstanding
gecondoleerd	my condolences
aangenaam	nice to meet you
wilt u even wachten	please hold on
beleefdheidsformule	polite formula
beleefd	politely
beleefdheid	politeness
herhaalt u	repeat
onbeschoftheid	rudeness
gaat u zitten	sit down
feliciteren	to congratulate
storen	to disturb
onderbreken	to interrupt
op de wang kussen	to kiss on the cheek
tutoyeren	to use informal address

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Dutch words on “Politeness and small talk”. The full topic holds 129 in the KoKo app: 51 at the easy level, 45 at the medium level and 33 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Dutch vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.