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Grammar · Topic 12 · A1 · 8 questions · about 11 minutes

Politeness: u or je?

Beleefd zijn: u of je?

In Dutch you use u for polite 'you' and jij/je for informal 'you'. You will learn who to say which one to, polite requests, and how to start and end a formal e-mail.

Explanation

Two ways to say 'you'

Dutch has two words for 'you': jij (unstressed je) is informal, u is polite. u is used with adults you don't know, older people, the doctor, at the municipality and in a job interview. Friends, family, children and often colleagues say je to each other.

In the Netherlands people switch to je quite quickly. If someone says Zeg maar je. (You can call me je.), you can easily use je. If you are not sure, say u first; in the exam u is always safe as well.

The verb with u, and uw

With u the verb has the same form as with hij/zij: stem + -t: u werkt, u woont, u komt. With zijn you say u bent, not u is. With hebben both forms are correct: u heeft and u hebt; u heeft is more common.

The possessive word for polite 'your' is uw: uw naam, uw adres, uw afspraak. The possessive for jij is jouw or unstressed je: jouw fiets, je moeder. In a question u comes after the verb, but the verb does not change: Woont u hier? (Compare: Woon jij hier?)

  • Waar woont u?Where do you live?
  • Bent u mevrouw De Vries?Are you Mrs De Vries?
  • Heeft u uw identiteitsbewijs bij u?Do you have your ID with you?
What do you say to whom?Locked

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Polite requestsLocked

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Everyday politenessLocked

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E-mails and lettersLocked

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Common mistakesLocked

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Words you need

Example questions

1 / 8
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Question 1

U praat op straat met een oudere vrouw die u niet kent. Wat zegt u?

You are talking to an older woman you don't know in the street. What do you say?

You speak to adults you don't know and to older people with the polite form u.

Test yourself

1 / 8
0 of 8 answered · 0 correctYour answers are kept on this device.
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Question 1

U praat op straat met een oudere vrouw die u niet kent. Wat zegt u?

Choose an option

My answers

  • 2Kies het juiste werkwoord: ___ u uit Marokko?Locked
  • 3Welke zin is correct?Locked
  • 4Vul in: Wat is ___ adres, meneer?Locked

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