I'm going to Amsterdam the 2nd week of October after spending a week in France. I have been so focused on France and the fun of speaking French on a daily basis again (French is my first language, but I moved to the States in '68), that I totally forgot about Dutch.

I'm sure that many people in Amsterdam speak English or French and I probably won't have any problems communicating. But as a courtesy, I would like to know a few common phrases...can any of you help...along with an idea of the pronunciation. I will go to Borders and look for a book tonight, but I don't remember seeing one on Dutch before.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I assume you are dead serious about this and if so, I would brush up on my GERMAN as well which might get you even farther.

Have you considered the possibility that some folks you interact with actually enjoy the opportunity to practice their conversational English with someone such as yourself?

Has lyb previously mentioned knowing (or having previously learned) some German? Not mentioned on this post.

Yes, many Dutch people (especially under age 40) will communicate radily with you in (flawless) English. Yes, you can find Dutch phrasebooks, audio matrials, or whole courses. Yes, you will find that Dutch will respond to the courtesy of your making a little effort in the form of basic polite phrases. Yes, if you already know German, it couldn't hurt t obrush up on it - - however, if you have some familiarity with German (rusty or otherwise), then you may find it's fun and easy to gain some simple familiarity with Dutch. Once you get past the minor confusion points ("g" = "h", more or less, nd "ij" = "ei&quot, there is no language closer to English than Dutch.

Best wishes,

Rex

yes, I am serious and yes people might like to practice their English, but I think it's just common courtesy to at least know a few words in the native language...I'm not asking for a whole conversation...just things like...

'Hello', 'thank you', 'excuse me', the very important word "bathroom/restroom/toilet", what is the commonly used word? etc...I think most of you get the idea....oh, of course, "how much is that?"

Intrepid1 "brush up on my German"....how did you know that I took 3 years of German in High school? of course, the 3 things I remember to say is "My name is Lynn" "What time is it" and "you are an idiot"...which I don't think would serve me that well during my travels...but hey, remember it was during high school...different priorities on what phrases to learn...

Danke.

That's enough. I travel there all the time, and you'll be fine speaking English. No problems.

A simple "Google" search for "Dutch Phrasebook" will bring up numerous "hits". The one by wikitravel is simple, and contains most phrases you will ever need. No need to purchase a phrase book. Enjoy your trip to the Netherlands!

If you go to Amazon.com, you can easily find Dutch travelers' phrasebooks, if you wish. I have a good one, it's by Dover. You have more than enough time to order one, even if you can't find one at a local bookstore.

Many people speaking Enlgish in Amsterdam is an understatement, but if you want to learn just a couple phrases, you could also find that with a few words in Google. This looks like it could suit that purpose:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/...ide/748179.stm

Danke everybody...I'll look on google and I have a couple of guidebooks on Amsterdam that might have some phrases in the back....I haven't read them completely yet....It's the last stop on my trip, so the last books to read in details.

47 days until I leave for Paris, so 53 days until I get to Amsterdam. I've been planning this trip for a year...and now here it is! Getting a little nervous/anxious/excited... This will be the first time that I go totally on my own to Europe and use the trains to go from place to place and rent a car for 2 days to visit the Normandy beaches...trying to figure out what and how to pack....etc......

Here are a few words that should get you started. My spelling isn't the greatest, and some of the words are spelled phonetically to help with pronounciation.
hello: dag
Good morning: goedemorgen
good afternoon: goedemiddag
Thank you: dank uw wel
Can you help me? Kunt uw me helpen?
Please: Alstubleeft
Where is the bathroom: Var is het vay say? (w.c. is the common public toilet word, or badkammer for bathroom.)
How much: hoofayl? or Wat kost dat?
The g's are pronounced more lightly than german and almost like the "ch" in challah.
If you bump into someone, "pardon" with a french flair is ok to say. Most everyone speaks english in Amsterdam, so don't be surprised if you say something in Dutch and they respond in English.
(Spraykt uw engels is Do you speak English.)
Tot ziens and have fun!

drempel,

Danke...just what I needed.

Lyb,

Here is a Dutch web site that is a kick. It includes such useful Dutch phrases as, "I seem to have soiled myself, could you please call me a taxi?"

http://www.seethru.co.uk/zine/guides...hrase_book.htm

nukes:

HA HA !!
okay, you're a taxi.

You will probably find that the Dutch will reply to you in English, even if you speak Dutch to them. Most Dutch people have quite a good understanding and knowledge of English.

The Dutch, in general, are not very keen on Germans of the German language, so it's probably better to speak English than German when in The Netherlands.

The word 'Danke' mentioned by several people is actually German for 'Thank you'. The Dutch word for 'Thank you' is either 'dankjewel' or 'bedankt' (popular) or 'Dank u' (polite).

Other words / phrases:

Hello = Hallo

Excuse me = Pardon (when pronouncing the emphasis should be on the second syllable, so pardón rather than párdon)

Bathroom /toilet = w.c. (pronounced 'waysay') or 'toilet' (pronounced in the French way)

How much is that = Hoeveel kost dat? (pronounced hoovail cost dhat)

Waiter = ober
Coffee = koffie (but pronounced the same)
Tea = thee (pronounced tay)
Where is = waar is
To help = helpen

I wonder if 'Hallo' in Dutch has the same sort of 'Hey you!' connotation as in German? I think it might be more polite to use the 'Good morning', etc equivalents, as listed above. Don't forget 'oe' in Dutch='oo' in English, so 'Goede morgen' is conversationally pronounced a bit more like 'hooyer more-her' and 'Goede middag' = 'hoo-de midahh' elide simply to 'dahh' (similar to the back of the throat 'ch' of German).

The word 'sorry' is commonly used between Dutch people, but for what it's worth, the Dutch equivalent is 'Het spijt mij' (= 'It spy-t me'); or for "Excuse me", you could use 'pardon'.

I wonder if 'Hallo' in Dutch has the same sort of 'Hey you!' connotation as in German? I think it might be more polite to use the 'Good morning', etc equivalents, as listed above. Don't forget 'oe' in Dutch='oo' in English, so 'Goede morgen' is conversationally pronounced a bit more like 'hooyer more-her' and 'Goede middag' (= 'hoo-de midahh') tends to elide simply to 'dahh' (similar to the back of the throat 'ch' of German).

The word 'sorry' is commonly used between Dutch people, but for what it's worth, the Dutch equivalent is 'Het spijt mij' (= 'It spy-t me'); or for "Excuse me", you could use 'pardon'.

Hallo is used like you would use 'hello' in English. Goede morgen (good morning), goede middag (afternoon) and goede avond (evening) would be more polite. 'Hoi' is a very casual way of saying hello.

The word sorry is used much more than the Dutch 'het spijt me'. Or indeed, as said already, use the word 'pardon' for 'excuse me'.

People will appreciate it if you try to speak a few words of Dutch, and then switch to English.