Dutch Greetings: Hello & Goodbye
Greetings are the first thing you'll use — and the easiest way to sound friendly and natural. Here's how to say hello and goodbye in Dutch for every situation.
Greet like a local
Dutch greetings change with the time of day and how formal the situation is. Get these right and you immediately sound more natural.
Saying hello
By time and formality.
| Dutch | When to use |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Anytime, neutral and friendly |
| Hoi | Casual, with friends |
| Goedemorgen | Morning (until ~12pm) |
| Goedemiddag | Afternoon (12-6pm) |
| Goedenavond | Evening (after 6pm) |
| Hé / Yo | Very casual, young people |
Saying goodbye
And how formal each is.
| Dutch | When to use |
|---|---|
| Tot ziens | Polite, formal goodbye |
| Doei / Doeg | Casual bye |
| Dag | Neutral hello AND goodbye |
| Tot later | See you later |
| Tot morgen | See you tomorrow |
| Fijne dag! | Have a nice day! |
How are you in Dutch
To ask how someone is: ‘Hoe gaat het?’ (informal) or ‘Hoe gaat het met u?’ (formal). Common replies: ‘Goed, dank je’ (good, thanks), ‘Het gaat wel’ (so-so), ‘Prima!’ (great). And the classic Dutch greeting combo: ‘Hoi, alles goed?’ — friendly and natural.
Sound natural from hello to goodbye
Dutch Daily helps you use greetings naturally through real conversation practice. Free to start.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do you say hello in Dutch?
'Hallo' works anytime. By time of day: 'Goedemorgen' (morning), 'Goedemiddag' (afternoon), 'Goedenavond' (evening). 'Hoi' is the casual version with friends.
How do you say goodbye in Dutch?
'Tot ziens' is the polite goodbye; 'doei' or 'dag' are casual. 'Tot later' (see you later) and 'tot morgen' (see you tomorrow) are also common.
How do you say how are you in Dutch?
'Hoe gaat het?' (informal) or 'Hoe gaat het met u?' (formal). Reply with 'Goed, dank je' (good, thanks) or 'Prima!' (great).