How to Say Hello and Goodbye in Dutch, Plus the 3 Kisses Posted by sarah on Mar 15, 2010 in Dutch Language
In Dutch there are many ways of saying hello and goodbye. Which greeting you will use will depend on the time of day. Most of the estimates for the times of day you can use these greetings are estimates, so use whatever seems most appropriate to you. For the Dutch, the night greeting is usually reserved for very late at night.
Saying Hello
hallo : hello
goedemorgen : good morning, for use from around 6:00am until around noon
goedemiddag : good afternoon, for use from around 12 noon until around 4:00 or 5:00pm
goedenavond : good evening, for use from around 5:00pm until around 11:00pm
goedenacht : good night, for use from around 11:00pm until around 6:00am
In the above examples, goede is often slurred so that it sounds like goeie, which is also a bit more informal. Try pronouncing goede but just gloss over the d in your pronunciation.
dag : literally day, but means hi, good day
hoi : hi, informal
Saying Goodbye
dag/daag : again it literally means day here, but it is used as saying, have a nice day.
doeg: this comes from dag, and just means the same thing.
doei : bye.
doei-doei : this isn’t an official way of saying goodbye, but you will hear it a lot, and it basically means bye-bye
tot ziens : see you later
tot zo : see you soon, usually used if you will be seeing the person a little later that day
tot straks : see you soon, also usually used if you will be seeing the person a little later that day
One cultural difference you might notice is that the Dutch can be rather reserved. For me, it’s fairly common that if I see a friend on the street I might yell my hello across the street and get this person’s attention. This isn’t considered a terrible faux pas in Dutch culture, but it is often preferred if your greeting stays more subdued.
Those Three Kisses
Those three kisses (Image by Simon Blackley at Flickr.com under CC BY-ND 2.0)
The other difference you might notice is that the Dutch give three kisses on the cheek when they greet. A colleague of mine recently described it as a sort of head-bobbing chicken dance, and indeed, it can seem as such. The general rule for these kisses is that women are expected to kiss women and men on each cheek, first one side, then the other, then back again to the first cheek, in a sort of quick pecking motion. This is generally expected among friends and family. Men are expected to give this greeting to women, but not with other men. For men, a simple, firm handshake with a direct look in the eye will usually suffice. Eye contact is fairly important for the Dutch, so even if it appears that they might be staring you down, it’s probably not intended that way.
There is a bit of debate over the whole “three kisses” vs “two kisses” within Dutch culture, since no one can really seem to find a good reason for that extra kiss other than that every one else does it. Some Dutch people will even admit that three is perhaps a bit overkill, but as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do…and when in the Netherlands, give three kisses.
If you are looking to learn Dutch, check out our website at Transparent.com for free resources like Dutch Word of the Day and our Dutch Facebook community, or take it to the next level with a free trial of our self-guided online Dutch course.
Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.
Comments:
Jan Castle:
I have a question about the 3 kisses.
When in Holland in 2009 I was never sure if I was doing the 3 kisses correctly. Which side to you start with – bumping noses is awkward!
I love getting this dutch blog daily – and is helping me learn the language. Ik spreak een kline betje netherlands.
Thx. Jan (Canada)
sarah:
@Jan Castle Hi Jan,
Thanks for your comment! This one drives me nuts too. I’m honestly not sure what the “official” starting position is for all that kissing…I think I usually start on the right, although I have had plenty of awkward moments and nose/face bumps along the way. A sentence to help you out for those awkward moments: “Het spijt me! Ik ben nog niet gewend aan de drie kussen!” “I’m sorry! I’m not yet accustomed to the three kisses!” It usually gets a laugh and acknowledges the awkwardness. I used this one this weekend at a birthday party where I went in for the three and the other person didn’t….You never know what you’re going to get here!
Harmony:
@Jan Castle Hi the three kisses here are amazing I see people kissing there wife and girlfriends and boyfriends and how are the kisses there.
Ferry Swart:
Hi Jan and Sara,
I’m 100% dutch and it’s funny to read about our own habbits:) You both ask what side to begin the 3 kisses? Well, there’s no rule to it actually. I had to think for my self a bit to know what side i usually start. I start on the right side. But it’s no rule, so indeed it will give some confusion when i’m aiming for the right cheek and the person i’m greeting aims to my left cheek. But no one is upset about it when that happens. It usually makes us giggle when our noses are bumping against each other.
I haven’t got a clue why we do 3 kisses. Funny thing is that they’re not really kisses most of the time but more touching cheeks and kissing in the air at the same time.
An other thing about the 3 kisses. We only do it with people we know well enough. Say i enter a room full of dutchies at the birthday party. Likely there will be a number of people that I don’t know. I don’t give those people even a single kiss but just a firm handshake and a look in the eye while greeting her and say my name. Giving the 3 kisses means: I know you, and i like you, I’m glad to see you. If i know someone and i don’t like the person i will not give that person the 3 kisses although it’s customary.
I kinda like the “three kisses” thing here and it seems we’re the only ones in the world that do it this way.
An other thing about saying hello in dutch. Indeed we say “goeie” instead of “goede” most of the time. But when in a formal gathering we do say “goede” because it’s more polite. “goeie” is more informal. And when coming at work or walking into a shop we say “môge” where the O is rond and stretched.
sarah:
@Ferry Swart Hi Ferry,
Thanks for your great comment and for the explanations! Indeed, I sometimes find myself doing nothing more than kissing the air. We have a very large extended family, making matters complicated. Some of them want kisses, some don’t, though of course, no one seems offended either way. I think it also depends on where people are from and the family situation. Some families are more formal than others. I don’t do the three kisses with my mother in law, we just give each other one big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Everyone sort of makes their own patterns for these things.
Groetjes!
Ferry Swart:
Yes, so true Sara. The three kisses are not mandatory. It’s a habit we dutchies don’t think about and do it fully automatically. I even find myseld doing it to my American family and they’re always amused when i do it. They like it though when i give them the three kisses and they even start to do it them selfs too because they like the habit.
If you, or anyone else wants to know anything about our habits, traditions, and behavior just ask. I’ll be very glad to explain. Also because it makes me think about things that we do here without thinking but are sometimes different to other cultures.
I even think about a few things about dutch people that are typical dutch where i can write articles about.
Ferry Swart:
Men never kisses other men although it’s getting more and more custom that men hug each other. But they only do that with men they know each other well and the hug is firm and mostly they tap each other on the back while doing it. It is however not customary to do this with family but only among good friends.
Peter Simon:
Hi, Ferry, thanks for all the interesting comments. One thing about only the Dutch doing 3 kisses. Well, I’m from Hungary. It’s recently that I’ve discovered that teenagers there also give 3 kisses to friends, especially girls. It doesn’t happen among other people, only them. But it may also happen in some other countries. Cheers!
Ferry Swart:
Peter, sure there are other cultures that do the same things:)
cecilia:
Hi Sarah,
I am kinda at a loss when it comes to cheek kissing. Recently, a dutch friend offered to cheek kiss when we met up and I felt really awkward at it. Hope to do it right the next time we meet. When I am being kissed on the cheek, am I expected to kiss back or is it just suffice by offering the cheek?
Thanks and love your blogs.
cecilia
sarah:
@cecilia Hi Cecilia,
Thanks for your comment!
I honestly think it depends on how uncomfortable you are, and how close you are with the other person. If the other person is…oh let’s say…your mother-in-law, than perhaps you might want to go with the flow and give kisses back. But if it’s a friend and you really are uncomfortable, you should be able to say that it makes you uncomfortable, and perhaps soften it by making a joke. Generally the Dutch appreciate directness, so you won’t be stepping on any toes as long as you are polite.
Then again, practice makes perfect, and it does get easier with time if you just do it. As a foreigner, if you mess it up, no one takes offense.
Good luck!
Frans:
Dear Ferry, I have a little question about Dutch language and Dutch culture.
When I meet an old friend (een vriendinetje) after so many years b’cause she moved to Holland many years ago, can I say “Can I hug and kiss you” ..and how can I say it in Dutch?
Is it ok when we meet I embrace and hug her and give her kisses on both cheeks?
Thanks.
Please also forward your answer to my email frans_sela@yahoo.co.uk
Melanie:
I love the Dutch 3 kisses and go right first. I’ve been embarrassed by kissing on this lips when it went wrong. It is difficult if you both wear glasses, but in case of doubt/danger air kiss! ;-P
Mike:
I’m a Canadian from a British background. So kissing upon greeting another person is certainly new to me. However, could you give me some guidelines as to who initiates the “kissing/greeting” when people meet?
Mike
heather:
@Mike Hi Mike,
As far as I can tell, there isn’t really a rule for who initiates the kissing. It is usually more of a mutual cheek attack. 🙂
Heather
Celanne:
I have corresponded with a Ducth man for several years. We once had a close relationship but for reasons of time, distance, and other things, we parted. But be sure that he is special to me. So here’s the question: When he signs his letters, he often puts three x’s like this:
XXX…..
I wonder, are these those polite Dutch kisses on the cheek or are they something more? My real question is: Is this the usual ending to a Dutch person’s letter? I wish I knew.
AmsterdaMummy:
I’m an English girl living in Amsterdam for about 11 years now and I was never one for kissing before, being English, having that awkward greeting thing of not really doing anything and getting embarrassed about it – I LOVE the three kisses and use it ALL THE TIME, it’s such a good way to break the ice… there seems to be a rule in the ‘expat world’ that you start on the left hand side, I’ve never had a ‘botsen’ yet!!!
AmsterdaMummy:
PS – I love your blog…
Hassan:
Am Ugandan., i read about the Dutch 3-kiss greating and really liked it. My question is, what if I kiss a stranger I have admired or one who has been introduced to me by a friend? Does that have anything to do with culture mis-conduct.?
Guus:
I am Dutch,
I usually start left and most people I met also start left.
@Celanne they are just to be polite, there isn’t really something behind these kisses (well, maybe it’s similar to dogs in a pack, it’s just our way of saying that this person is one of ours)
Steve:
I’ve met quite a few Dutch people over the years but none have ever greeted me with the 3 kisses. What does that mean?
I remember there was one Dutch woman in particular that did insist on greeting everybody with a kiss but she favored the ‘Hollywood’ type of air kisses.
Great blog btw and well done on a thought provoking article!
Steve
Natasha:
Hi there,
I am from Macedonia and we also have the three kisses rule when you meet someone [it is the same with most or even all ex-Yugoslav republics]. We always kiss firstly the other person’s right cheek [thus, with our right cheek]. It is not kissing as much as it is just touching the cheeks and kissing the air 😀 thus, it is a bumping between the right cheeks, then the left ones and the right ones again.
Albanians, unlike that, have a two kisses habit.
However, I somehow never used this way of greeting my great great Dutch friend, I have always been solely hugging him when greeting. Never knew you Dutch have the same rule 🙂
Regards,
Natasha.
catherine:
is giving three kisses cultural ?
Teo:
@catherine Slovenians, Croats and some Bosnians kiss two times. Serbia Macedonia and Montenegro – three
It has to do with being orthodox vs catholics
But since Dutch are protestant for the most part i guess the three kiss greeting was either taken from orthodox church or developed independently
Brian:
I’m completely Dutch and just wanted to clarify the 3 kisses. You always start on the right side and end on the right side. Also, a way to say good bye is “truste” which comes from: well te ruste. Truste means goodnight
Millie:
Hello…I like dutch but sounds hard Infact am looking forward to get a hubby from Netherlands, 🙂 .
Kenyan
Anna Hugo:
I love your blog..thanks and i learned…
Confused:
Hi, I have never written on a forum before!!! & I can’t believe I’m doing it, but the only reason I find myself doing it is because I have been finding myself obsessed with researching Dutch culture recently, after meeting a Dutch person for the first time in my home town in England UK… & when I say Dutch person, I mean hot Dutch guy I have a mega crush on! Since he turned up last year out the blue! Lol!
I have become friendly with him & have dated him on & off since I met him & he confuses the hell out of me!!
When I first got to know him & we got comfortable, he used to give me the 3 greeting kisses, now he only gives me 1 cheek kiss…. To be fair like I said, we have an off on acquaintance / friendship / relationship. I don’t see him consistently though…
But when we are drinking out together in a pub or bar, we end up making out & sleeping together! So what’s all that about! Does he like me or not! Haha!
Or am I just not accepting that he is like any other typical bloke in the world! Lol… It’s just the kiss thing I don’t get, how can it go from 3 kisses to 1… Yet he will happily take me to bed! Lol?
Chrissi:
This was very helpful and will be very useful in my holiday in the Netherlands soon.
Magdalena:
I’m from Macedonia, we greet family with three kisses as well. I know the same custom exists in Serbia and Croatia as well.
Julia:
I’m currently living in the Netherlands and experienced some differences.
According to my Dutch professor and Dutch friends, they say “goedemiddag” until 6 p.m. Addionally “tot ziens” means goodbye and not see you later. You say it when you do not know if you ever see that person again (e.g. when leaving a restaurant you say it to the waiter/waitress)
Miischall:
I’ve read somewhere in a book that you’ll see how people are close on the 3rd kiss, if the 3rd kiss is closer to the lips it means they might be very close, and if it’s a full on kiss it might mean they’re in a romantic relationship. How true is this?