Dutch greetings

DAG,   DAAG,   DOEG,   DOEI,   DOEDOEI

How to Say Hello (and Goodbye!) in Dutch – Without Getting Lost in the Jungle of “Doei”

One of our students — an Italian who just started learning Dutch — recently shared how surprised she was by the Dutch way of greeting. To her ears, Dutch sounds a bit monotone, with limited variation in pitch, tone, and volume… that is, until it’s time to say goodbye. Then suddenly: singing, shouting, waving, and wild expressions! And honestly? She’s got a point.

DAG! – The All-Purpose Lifesaver

Not sure what to say when you enter or leave a room? “Dag” is your go-to word. It’s always correct, polite, and works at any time of day. Want to spice it up? Say “daag” with a long “aaah.” It’s friendly and still safe in pretty much any situation.

DOEDOEI! – Super Dutch, Super Informal

Feeling brave? Got Dutch family or close friends? Then go ahead and try a cheerful “doeg” or “doedoei” when saying goodbye. Just remember: it’s only for leaving, kind of like saying “byebye” in English — informal and warm.

GOEDEMORGEN, GOEDEMIDDAG… GOEDEWAT?!

Dutch greetings change depending on the time of day:

• Goedemorgen (morning) until 12 PM
• Goedemiddag (afternoon) until 6 PM
• Goedeavond (evening) until midnight
• Goedenacht (night) from midnight to 6 AM

You’ll also hear shortened versions like goeiemorgen or goeieavond. Use these with people you don’t know very well — like the tram driver, your neighbour, or a colleague.

Taming the Dutch “G” – Yes, You Can!

Wrestling with that throat-clearing Dutch “G”? Here’s the trick: focus on the vowels. Don’t stress the harsh “g” sounds in goeDemorGen — instead, emphasize the vowels like gOEdemOrgen. It makes a big difference! Same goes for dag and daag, or graag gedaan (you’re welcome). It’s all about those smooth vowels.

HI, HE, HOI, HAIHAI – Casual & Cool

Want to keep things light and informal with Dutch friends? Try a friendly hoi, hi, or even hehe. When someone greets you with “hi, hoeissie?”, congrats — you’ve officially unlocked the top level of Dutch integration! (Translation: “Hi, how’s it going?”)

HOUDOE, HAJE, MOI – Go Local or Go Home

Ready to really blend in? Every Dutch region has its own local flavor of greetings. From houdoe in Brabant to moi up north, there’s a whole world of regional hellos and goodbyes to explore. Want to know more? Ask your Flowently tutor or check our full list of regional gems — and impress the locals with your insider knowledge.

• Adieë wa – Kerkraads dialect, Zuid-Limburgs goodbye
• Ajiu, ajuus – informal àdieu
• Doeg – Zaanstreek
• Goedendag, Goeiendag of Gedag – from God geve u een goede dag! ‘Goede dag’ meant ‘luck’, may God give you luck.
• Haije – goodbye in Noord-Limburg
• Houje – Nijmegen, between Brabants and Limburg
• Harre,  Agoeie – in parts of Friesland
• Houdoe – Noord-Brabant, south of Gelderland
• Moaj – West-Friesland (Nedersaksisch)
• Môh, Môguh – West-Nederland, Westland
• Moi – North and East Nederland and goedgaon for goodbye
• Morrie – goedendag, goedemorgen, hallo – West-Friesland
• No heui – West-Friesland
• Salut – (oost) Zeeuw-Vlaams (from France)
• Tjeu, Tjo, Jo, Mazzel – goodbye
• Tot ziens – Doeg, Doei, Later, Aju – goodbye
• Vaarwel – formal goodbye, at the navy
• Welkom – welcome
• Welterusten – Slaap lekker – sleep well
• Zjeur – Aalsters, informal, from Bonjour

Do you want to learn more about Dutch language in your region?
Book a session with one of our local tutors, available in over 100 cities in The Netherlands.
Dag en tot de volgende keer!