Reference: spoken Dutch, verbs, de/het and more

The most common 'how are you' between people who know each other. The answer is short too: Ja, prima!

't is het, which is how it sounds in speech.

hoor makes the answer friendly and light.

Het disappears. Said cheerfully it means 'fine'; with a sigh, 'so-so'.

That's how goedemorgen sounds in speech. Likewise goeiemiddag, goeienavond.

The verb comes first, ik follows, het disappears. Same pattern: Snap ik. Ken ik niet. Heb ik niet.

snappen is the casual word for 'understand'.

The het at the start drops: (het) is goed. You agree to anything this way — a time, a place, a plan.

The answer to sorry. Similar: Maakt niet uit. — 'Doesn't matter'.

Also: Serieus? Meen je dat?

A short yes to a suggestion: Zullen we morgen fietsen? — Doen we!

Tot ziens is for shops, the doctor, the gemeente. Doei is for friends, neighbours, colleagues.

Tot zo — in a few minutes, tot straks — in a couple of hours, tot morgen — tomorrow.

Cashiers and neighbours alike say it. You answer: Jij ook! or Insgelijks!

Doe mij maar… is the most common way to order. Even simpler: Een koffie, graag.

Drop ik wil: just what you want plus graag.

This is what you'll be asked. Also: Zeg het maar.

In a café you also hear: Mag ik de rekening?

pinnen means paying by card, from pincode.

If you give a bit extra: Klopt zo. — 'that's fine as it is'.

Hoeft niet is a polite short no to Wilt u een tasje?

Lekker isn't only 'tasty': it's a reaction to anything nice.

Bedankt works with strangers and friends. Dank je wel is warm, dank u wel is polite.

A reaction to a present or a favour.

Said when handing something over. In speech it often sounds like asjeblieft.

What you say squeezing past on a train or in a queue.

hoor makes it light. Het spijt me is for serious matters.

Only among friends. With strangers: Sorry? or Wat zei u?

Also: Graag gedaan, Geen dank.

joh is a friendly 'come on'.

't = het. That's how it almost always sounds.

m'n = mijn, z'n = zijn, d'r = haar.

ie is hij after the verb: heeft-ie, is-ie.

In texts it's written ff: wacht ff.

Here ie stands for het.

The l in the middle is barely heard.

Unstressed een sounds like a short 'un'.

There was a het at the start (Het snap ik niet); it's dropped and the verb stays first.

Often ironic: 'yeah, right'.

An offer in one word, with a question tone.

zin hebben in means 'to feel like'. Only the tail of the sentence is left.

In speech iets often becomes wat.

uitkomen means 'to suit (timewise)'.

A polite short no, without explanations.

appen means to message someone.

The Dutch value punctuality: if you're late, message in advance.

hoor reassures and sounds friendly.

even makes the request small: 'just a sec'.

maar signals permission and invitation, without pressure.

gewoon means 'just, simply'.

hè? expects agreement: 'isn't it?'

joh is a friendly address, only among friends.

nou is 'well', the start of a cautious answer.

Also: Gaaf!, Tof!, Top!

Also: Wat balen!, Ik baal ervan.

A bit rude: only with people you know well.

Means both 'I don't believe it' and 'no way' — depends on the situation.

Ff bellen? — 'Quick call?'

For family and loved ones.

ik weet merges into kweet.

sparren comes from English: 'to bounce ideas around'.

An English word in a Dutch sentence — normal in offices.

At work lastig is often a polite 'no'.

zou… willen + even is the standard polite request.

A question instead of 'that's wrong' — a soft way to point it out.

Dutch praise: restrained but sincere.

Said with a straight face, gezellig means the opposite.

From Arabic; used by teenagers of every background.

In chats: jwz.

A Brabant goodbye, literally 'hold on'.

In Groningen moi is both hello and goodbye.

In Flanders often in French.