Dutch greetings change with the time of day. Hoi and hallo work any time; dag is both hello and goodbye.
| Dutch | When |
|---|---|
| goedemorgen | until about 12:00 |
| goedemiddag | 12:00–18:00 |
| goedenavond | evening |
| welterusten | good night (going to sleep) |
Sounds to know
- g and ch are the same throaty sound, like clearing your throat softly: goed, acht.
- ui has no English equivalent: round your lips and say "ow" (huis, uit).
- ij and ei sound the same, close to the "ay" in "day": mij, klein.
- oe is "oo" as in "food": goed. eu is like French peu: leuk.
- A double vowel is long: maan (moon) vs man (man).
- w is softer than in English, between English w and v.
Alsjeblieft means both "please" and "here you are". Use alstublieft in formal situations.