Our short lesson in Dutch contains enough of the most common travel phrases to help you get by in the Netherlands.Downloads Dutch Language Lesson (MP3 | Size: 29.2 MB | 12'46) Dutch Language Guide Script Scott: Oh Shit!Catharine: Excuseer mij?!Scott: Oh - sorry - I meant literally - shit - I've just stepped in it!Catharine: Ah yes - you must watch where you walk - many dog owners don't clean up after their little ones. Scott: Oh man - it's all over my shoe! Catharine: There are some steps down to the canal over there - perhaps you could dip your shoe into the canal? Come, I will show you!Scott: Thank you. I'm Scott by the way.Catharine: I'm Catharine. Scott: You are a local?Catharine: Ja, born and bred in Amsterdam. Where are you from?Scott: Australia, born and bred! Can I practise some Dutch on you?Catharine: Ja, sure. You speak Dutch? Not many tourists do. Scott: Well, one or two phrases... like "Speek je Englils?"Catharine: I think you mean "Spreek je Engels?" Ja?Scott: ahh... ja.. Spreek je Engels! Catharine: Well done.Scott: I didn't say I was fluent! My other phrase is "waar zin de toitetten, alstublit" which I might add that dog should have used! Catharine: Yes, but you actually should say "waar zijn de toitetten, alstublieft - where's the toilet, please?" Is this the only Dutch you know?Scott: Ja.Catharine: Would you like me to teach you some more?Scott: That would be fantastic - I was on my way to a Brown Cafe if you would like to join me - we can learn over a beer...Catharine: Sure, why not. Here are the steps - just clean your shoe first! Scott: Man, it's everywhere - I think I'm just going to have to put my whole foot in the water - lucky I'm wearing boots! How do I say - "I curse Dutch dogs with diarrhoea!"Catharine: This is Ik vervloek honden met diarree.Scott: Ik vervloek honden met diarree.  Catharine: Yeah, well done. And I'm sure Australian dogs sometimes fall victim to the same fate! Scott: Maybe, but probably not in the centre of the city! Anyway - all clean, c'mon lets get a beer! Ok, so I know Hallo and Goedag - but what about Good morning and Good evening?Catharine: This is goedemorgen and goedeavond.Scott: Goedemorgen, Goedeavond.Catharine: Ja, very good. Scott: Thanks - actually how do I say thank you?Catharine: This is dank u and please is alstublieft.Scott: Dank u. Alstublieft - oh - I know we've already introduced ourselves but how would I say "My Name is Scott" and "I'm from Australia"Catharine: Mijn naam is Scott. Scott: Mijn naam is Scott. Catharine: Ik kom uit Australië.Scott: Ik kom uit Australië. Catharine: Yes, good.Scott: Here's the café - I've become a bit of a local here, I'm staying around the corner and this is the most local and non-touristy Brown Café I could find. Catharine: Ja, this is a great Bruine Krogegen - an old fashioned café - I know some of the locals. It used to be very smokey - but smoking in public was banned recently and is much nicer to sit here now. Scott: Yeah, I read about that - even tobacco in joints are banned in public aren't they? I guess the trade in space cookies must be booming now! Catharine: Ja, all tobacco smoking in public is banned - if you want to smoke hash at a smoke house you are supposed to do it without tobacco. Scott: Wow. How about a Beer? Catharine: Alstublieft! Scott: Cheers!Catharine: You mean Proost!Scott: Proost! Ok, so back to the lesson - how do I say "Where is" and "Which way to?"Catharine: Where is is Waar is. Scott: Waar is. Catharine: And Which way to is Hoe kom ik bij.Scott: Hoe kom ik bij. What about "I don't understand".Catharine: This is "ik versta het niet".Scott: Ik versta het niet.Catharine: Very good - or you could say "alstublieft, spreek langzamer" which is please speak more slowly.Scott: Alstublieft, spreek langzamer.Catharine: Ja, very good!Scott: Ok, how about "How much is it". Catharine: This is Hoeveel is het [huv'el iz het]. Scott: Hoeveel is het. What about "it's too expensive".Catharine: this is Het is te duur. Scott: Het is te duur. I'm going to cycle over to Droog Design later - I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the new design work - and also the shop, but I might need to say it's too expensive a few times over there! Catharine: Ja, I love Droog Design! When you have finished there you should cycle to the South Axis area, it is booming with new and independent shops - you would like it. Scott: Sounds great. I'm loving cycling although it took me a few days to get the hang of it but now I'm totally converted! Catharine: You know that you should lock both the frame and the wheel? Many, many bikes are stolen each day in the city - if you lock both the frame and the wheel with a good strong lock this won't happen to you. Scott: Yeah, the guy at the rental place showed me a great way to do it. I've also been careful about where I leave it as I've heard bikes are taken away if they are parked in a no-park zone. Catharine: Yes, this has happened to me before - it really sucks! Scott: Ok, so even though I've got my bike - I might need these for when I travel out of Amsterdam... how do I say bus, train, taxi and boat?Catharine: Bus is bus.Scott: Bus.Catharine: Train is trein.Scott: Trein.Catharine: Taxi is taxi.Scott: Taxi.Catharine: Boat is boot.Scott: Boot.Catharine: Actually, there are many good canal tours you can take with your bike - you hop on and off at different spots - you should do one. Also - ticket is kaartje. Scott: Kaartje. Right - I like the sound of a canal tour, I might have a look tomorrow - how do I say this?Catharine: Tomorrow is morgen.Scott: Morgen. What about today, yesterday and now?Catharine: Today is vandaag.Scott: Vandaag.Catharine: Yesterday is gisteren.Scott: Gisteren.Catharine: Now is nu.Scott: Nu. Catharine: Very good.Scott: I know - what about counting... how do I count to ten?Catharine: 1 - een, 2 - twee, 3 - drie, 4 - vier, 5 - vijf, 6 - zes, 7 - zeven, 8 - acht, 9 - negen, 10 - tienScott: een, twee, drie, vier, vijf, zes, zeven, acht, negen, tien!     Catharine: Oh, really good!Scott: Ok, so how about a few last phrases then I'll shout you another beer - no 'going dutch' - do the Dutch really 'go Dutch'?Catharine: well, ja, depending on the circumstances - just like anyone we will split the bill if we are out with friends or if it is a date the guy usually pays the whole bill. Or... if it is a language lesson the student might buy the first few beers... Scott: Ok, ok - I get the hint... before I head back to the bar how do I say "I like this" and "I don't like it".Catharine: I like this is Dit vind ik lekker.Scott: Dit vind ik lekker.Catharine: Yes, good. And "I don't like this" is Dit vind ik niet lekker.Scott: Dit vind ik niet lekker. Ok, nearly done - I just need some practical stuff like "Have you a room".Catharine: Heeft u een kamer.Scott: Heeft u een kamer. And "May I see it" - I've learnt this lesson the hard way at a few very dodgy hostels!Catharine: you say Mag ik die even zien!Scott: Mag ik die even zien. Catharine: sort of... you do realise that pretty much all Dutch people speak English so you will be ok even if you don't master this lesson. When a Dutch person hears you speaking in a very broken accent they will normally revert to speaking English to help you out! Scott: Yeah, I know - I just like learning a few local phrases - and it means I get to meet nice locals like you!Catharine: Ja ok, - must be time for another beer!Scott: Ok, ok - one last thing how do I say - police, hospital and doctor - what with all the bike riding and dog poo you never know what might happen!Catharine: Well - if you lock your bike and watch where you walk should be fine - but just in case.... Police is politie.Scott: Politie.Catharine: Hospital is Ziekenhuis. Scott: Ziekenhuis. Catharine: ...and Doctor is Dokter.Scott: Dokter. Catharine - thank you very much for your help - now how about that beer - and maybe some fries with mayonnaise - another Dutch thing I've come to love!Catharine: Sounds great!

[ Tue, 7 Oct 2008 04:40:00 GMT ]

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