A1: Greetings

📘 Explanation and rules

👋 1. What are greetings?

Greetings are words or phrases we use to say hello or goodbye.
In Dutch, just like in English, you can greet people formally or informally.

Formal → at work, with strangers, or with older people
Informal → with friends, family, or people your own age

🌞 2. Greetings during the day

Goedemorgen
Good morning
→ Until 12:00

Goedemiddag
Good afternoon
→ From 12:00 to 18:00

Goedenavond
Good evening
→ After 18:00

Hallo
Hello
→ Always good (neutral)

Hoi
Hi
→ Informal

Dag
Hi / Bye
→ Informal

🌙 3. Saying goodbye

Tot ziens
Goodbye (neutral / formal)

Dag
Bye (informal)

Doei
Bye (informal)

Tot straks
See you later (today)

Tot morgen
See you tomorrow

Slaap lekker
Sleep well / Good night
→ In the evening or before going to bed

💬 4. How are you?

When you greet someone, you can also ask how they are.

Hoe gaat het?
How are you? (neutral)

Hoe gaat het met je?
How are you? (informal)

Hoe gaat het met u?
How are you? (formal)

Goed, dank je. En met jou?
Good, thank you. And you? (informal)

Goed, dank u. En met u?
Good, thank you. And you? (formal)

💬 Examples

Goedemorgen, hoe gaat het?
Good morning, how are you?

Hoi, alles goed?
Hi, everything okay?

Goedemiddag, mevrouw.
Good afternoon, madam.

Dag, tot morgen!
Bye, see you tomorrow!

Doei, tot straks!
Bye, see you later!

Goedenavond, meneer.
Good evening, sir.

Hallo, ik ben Anna.
Hello, I’m Anna.

Slaap lekker!
Sleep well!

🗣️ 10 example sentences

Goedemorgen, hoe gaat het?
Good morning, how are you?

Hoi, alles goed?
Hi, everything okay?

Hallo, ik ben Thomas.
Hello, I’m Thomas.

Goedemiddag, meneer Janssen.
Good afternoon, Mr. Janssen.

Goedenavond, hoe was je dag?
Good evening, how was your day?

Dag, tot morgen!
Bye, see you tomorrow!

Doei, tot straks!
Bye, see you later!

Slaap lekker!
Sleep well!

Hoe gaat het met u?
How are you? (formal)

Goed, dank je. En met jou?
Good, thank you. And you?