Would you wish to learn to say “thanks” in Dutch?
Despite the fact that the Dutch could be fairly direct and quick-to-the-point of their conversations, saying thanks is simply as appreciated by them.
On this article, I’ll educate you 14 methods to say “thanks” within the Netherlands. So the subsequent time somebody offers you a stunning bouquet of Dutch roses or invitations you to a party, you’ll have loads of choices to thank them for it.
Plus, I’ve divided them into formal and casual responses, so that you’ll be expressing gratitude within the correct Dutch means.
It’s most likely one of many first issues most vacationers/newbie learners need to know: “How do you say thanks in Dutch?” It’s one of many primary constructing blocks of dialog. So let’s get began!
Methods to Say an Casual “Thank You” in Dutch
You wouldn’t write “thank u” to your boss in an electronic mail concerning an vital assembly you had yesterday after lunch. It’s the identical within the Netherlands: You’ve obtained to be careful a bit of if you say the Dutch phrase for “thanks”.
The Dutch language has each a proper and casual method to deal with different individuals: je and u.
Despite the fact that you’ll discover many natives saying je to everybody, at first, it’s a great observe to make use of u within the following conditions:
- With somebody who’s clearly older than you.
- With somebody who’s in the next “authority” place (docs, law enforcement officials or your boss)
So in these circumstances, you’d use the formal means of claiming “thanks” (I’ll share these in a second).
However since you almost certainly received’t end up in these extremely formal conditions typically, let’s begin with the commonest casual means of claiming “thanks” in Holland.
1. “Thanks” in Dutch – Dankjewel
You’ll hear this on a regular basis within the Netherlands. And for good cause: It’s the best means of claiming thanks within the Dutch language. It’s additionally the one that almost all newcomers study first.
It’s really very simple to study. It’s nearly a straight translation from English, however with the adverb “effectively” added to the tip. It emphasizes that you just’re thanking somebody with good intentions.
For those who’re studying Dutch, then you definately may see a number of completely different spellings of this phrase/phrases.
Each are appropriate. Additionally, there’s no distinction in pronunciation, as most Dutch individuals converse these phrases shortly.
At first, you could not have the ability to distinguish that these are literally three phrases, melded collectively as one.
Enjoyable experiment: If you wish to confuse a Dutch particular person about their very own language, ask them which of the 2 variations is the right spelling. Most will probably not know the reply, and can be pleasantly stunned if you inform them they’re each appropriate!
2. “Thank u” in Dutch – Dankje
If you wish to shortly thank somebody, and also you’re talking to somebody you’re near, shorten dankjewel by skipping the wel on the finish. This makes it a bit of extra affectionate and conversational.
3. “Thanks very a lot” in Dutch – Echt heel erg bedankt
If you wish to know tips on how to say “thanks very a lot” in Dutch, that is the right method to say it.
I like to recommend solely saying it if you’re certainly extremely grateful for one thing somebody did for you. It might be barely bizarre to thank a good friend for passing the salt on your patat met mayonaise (“chips with mayonnaise”), for instance.
It’s an ideal means of claiming thanks if you get an incredible present on your birthday – or when a Dutch particular person takes the time to talk Dutch with you for 20 minutes, as a substitute of switching to English immediately!
It’s a tricky phrase to translate straight into English, however the translation can be one thing like “actually very a lot thanks”.
4. “Tremendous thanks” in Dutch – Superbedankt
This one isn’t that frequent, however you may hear it between shut associates or household.
When saying this, it’s apparent that you just’re very grateful to the opposite particular person. It will also be humorous to say this in a sarcastic means when somebody feels as in the event that they’re doing you an enormous favour – whereas in actuality, they aren’t serving to you in any respect.
5. “Thanks” in Dutch – T(h)anks
The Dutch language is incorporating English increasingly more. And the language is already one of many closest to English within the first place! It’s additionally very near German, so if you understand German already, you’ve an enormous benefit when studying Dutch.
With this in thoughts, it shouldn’t come as a shock that you may merely say thanks in Dutch.
The one distinction to the English “thanks” is that many Dutchies skip the “h”. It creates a Dutch model that may sound humorous to native English audio system. It appears like “tanks”.
Sure, like those that drive round on battlefields capturing on the enemy. For those who hear somebody screaming “tanks” on the road – it’s simply somebody thanking one other particular person!
Methods to Say a Formal “Thank You” in Dutch
Now you’ve discovered some casual methods of claiming “thanks” in Dutch, let’s take a look at the extra formal phrases for displaying gratitude.
As a reminder, it’s a good suggestion to make use of these formal methods of claiming “thanks”:
- With somebody who’s clearly older than you
- With somebody who’s in the next “authority” place (docs, law enforcement officials or your boss)
6. Formal “Thanks” in Dutch – Dankuwel
Dankuwel is similar to dankjewel, solely the casual je has been changed by the formal u. You’ll be able to say this in nearly any formal state of affairs, akin to if you get your passport again from customs.
Or when a police officer helps you discover instructions to the Dam Sq., after you bought misplaced wandering across the Amsterdam canals. (In my protection, all of them look extremely comparable. Even natives who don’t dwell in Amsterdam are likely to get misplaced there over and over).
7. “Hearty thanks” in Dutch – Hartelijk dank
If you wish to add some emotion to your formal thanks, then that is the way in which to go. It’s generally utilized by public audio system after an extended presentation.
8. “Thank you a large number” in Dutch – Dank u zeer
There’s a excessive likelihood you’ll by no means hear this direct translation of “thanks rather a lot” in Dutch.
The phrase zeer has two meanings, each “very” and “harm”. So it’s good to know that when somebody says this, it means she or he may be very grateful.
I requested my Dutch associates, they usually mentioned this phrase is especially utilized by older individuals. Younger individuals don’t use this phrase anymore, and you may safely skip it until you need to be a very superior speaker.
9. “Thanks upfront” in Dutch – Bij voorbaat dank/alvast bedankt
For those who’re writing emails in Dutch, then you definately may need to end your message by thanking the recipient upfront. Since it will more than likely already be a (barely) formal electronic mail trade, there are two methods to say this.
- Very formal: bij voorbaat dank
- Rather less formal: alvast bedankt
So far as its use is worried, you may ask your self the query: “If I have been scripting this electronic mail in English, would I add thanks upfront?” If sure, you may as well safely use it in Dutch.
Professional tip: To keep away from any struggles like this when studying a brand new language (I imply not realizing if the event is correct to make use of a phrase or not) I attempt to get uncovered as a lot as potential to the language in actual use. I both watch a film or collection within the unique language, learn a ebook written within the language, or use podcasts.
For Dutch, I’ve discovered DutchPod101 significantly helpful.
Each Formal and Casual Methods to Say “Thank You” in Dutch
For the reason that Netherlands has a low ‘energy distance’, everybody feels equal. As an example, the boss isn’t thought of higher than an worker.
As such, there are a number of methods to thank somebody that can be utilized in each formal and casual conditions. These are nice to know in the event you’re fairly uncertain in regards to the formality you want in a selected state of affairs.
10. “Thanks” in Dutch – Bedankt
For those who wish to maintain issues easy and need to study only one phrase to say “thanks” in each state of affairs, that may be bedankt.
Bedankt is the previous participle of the verb “to thank” (bedanken). So it’s secure to imagine that previously individuals used to say ik heb je bedankt (“I’ve you thanked”). This shortened over time to simply bedankt.
It’s most likely the second commonest means of thanking somebody, and it’s barely extra formal than dankjewel. The absence of je or u makes the phrase very simple to make use of, as you can not by chance mistake the formality.
You’ll be able to say bedankt to a cashier if you’re doing groceries, or when thanking your captain after a ship journey via Amsterdam.
11. “Many thanks” in Dutch – Heel erg bedankt
“Many thanks” in Dutch is sort of a shortened model of echt heel erg bedankt, which we mentioned earlier than. The absence of echt makes it a bit much less emotional, though it’s nonetheless one thing you’d solely say if you’re actually grateful.
12. “Thanks a lot” in Dutch – Ontzettend bedankt
The literal translation of ontzettend is “monumental”, so the literal translation of ontzettend bedankt can be “monumental thanks”. A greater translation is “thanks a lot”. It may be in comparison with tremendous bedankt, however extra suited to basic use.
13. “Thanks all” in Dutch – Dank jullie wel
In English, the phrase “you” can be utilized to handle people and teams in each formal and casual conditions. Dutch isn’t like that. There’s a separate phrase for “you” in Dutch if you’re addressing a bunch: jullie.
So naturally, as you’d count on from dankjewel (casual) and dankuwel (formal), there’s additionally dankjulliewel (plural). That is used if you’re thanking multiple particular person. For instance, you may say dankjulliewel after you’ve had a scrumptious boerenkool stamppot met braadworst (“kale stew with bratwurst”) dinner at a Dutch couple’s house.
14. Methods to say “Thanks for…” in Dutch
Usually if you say “thanks”, you need to present your gratitude for one thing particular. That is one other half the place Dutch and English are comparable, as you merely say dankje voor….
When the Pope visits the Netherlands, he all the time says bedankt voor de bloemen (“thanks for the flowers”).
If you’re saying “thanks for” in Dutch, you should use this straightforward components:
Any “thanks” in Dutch + voor + de/het + noun
Two Methods to Say “You Are Welcome” in Dutch
I couldn’t allow you to go with out realizing tips on how to say “you’re welcome”. Think about being thanked, and seeming impolite as a result of you don’t have any concept tips on how to reply!
So how do you reply to thanks in Dutch?
There are two frequent methods:
- Graag gedaan – “glad to have been of assist”
- Geen dank – “No want for thanks”
One Last Factor to Watch Out For When Saying “Thank You” in Dutch
In English, if somebody asks in the event you’d like a beer or espresso, and also you say “thanks”, individuals will assume you imply “sure”, or at the very least double test to see whether or not you meant “no, thanks”.
In Holland, in the event you solely say dankjewel, there’s a great likelihood individuals would assume you imply “no”. It’s seen as a well mannered refusal of your provide.
So if somebody asks you if you would like one thing, make sure to say ja (“sure”), earlier than thanking them for the provide.
Now it’s over to you! Do you now really feel snug expressing your gratitude in Dutch? Let me know by leaving a touch upon my Instagram (@languagehacking), TikTok (@irishpolyglot), and Twitter (@irishpolyglot).
Heel erg bedankt for taking the time to learn my suggestions!
