Basic thanks and farewells | Learn Dutch in English

Sentence explanations

1. Tot later.

   See you later.

   Tot later

   See you later

   More detail

   Tot later is a fixed Dutch farewell pattern meaning “See you later.” Literally, tot expresses a point up to which something lasts (“until”), while later means “later.” In this expression, the omitted idea is meeting again: “until later [when we meet again].” later is the comparative form related to laat (“late”): laat = late, later = later. Here it functions as an adverb referring to a later time, not as an adjective describing a noun. Example: Ik kom later. — “I’ll come later.” The same pattern can combine tot with another time expression. In the supplied context, Tot morgen means “See you tomorrow,” with morgen (“tomorrow”) replacing later. Thus, Tot + time expression is a reusable way to say goodbye while indicating when the speakers expect to meet again. Together, Tot later is a brief, neutral farewell referring to a later meeting; it does not state who will initiate the meeting or give a precise time.

2. Tot morgen.

   See you tomorrow.

   Tot morgen

   See you tomorrow

   morgen

   tomorrow

   More detail

   Tot morgen is a Dutch farewell meaning “See you tomorrow.” Literally, tot means “until,” and morgen means “tomorrow”; together, the construction names the next expected meeting time. The full phrase is commonly used as a short closing expression. morgen means “tomorrow,” the day after today. It is a time word and does not change for person or number. Compare later in Tot later (“See you later”): both phrases use Tot plus a time expression, but morgen identifies the next day while later leaves the time less specific. Together, Tot + morgen produces the concise meaning “See you tomorrow.”

3. Heel erg bedankt.

   Thank you very much.

   Heel erg

   very much

   bedankt

   thanks

   More detail

   Heel erg intensifies what follows. Here, the two words work together to express a strong degree: “very much.” The same combination can intensify an adjective or adverb in other sentences. Example: Ik ben heel erg blij. — “I am very happy.” bedankt is the conventional standalone Dutch form for thanking someone, corresponding here to “thank you.” Its related verb is bedanken, “to thank”; for example, Ik bedank je. means “I thank you.” In the fixed utterance, however, bedankt functions as the established expression of thanks rather than as a word that needs to be expanded into a longer sentence. Together, Heel erg bedankt. means “Thank you very much.” It is a natural, concise expression of strong gratitude and can be used on its own.

4. Dat is alles voor vandaag.

   That is all today.

   Dat

   that

   is

   is

   alles

   everything; all

   voor vandaag

   for today

   More detail

   Dat means “that” here. It is a demonstrative pronoun: it can point to an already understood thing, situation, or amount. The supplied sentence does not identify a more specific referent. Dutch also has dit (“this”) for a nearer or more directly presented referent. is is the present-tense form of zijn (“to be”) for a third-person singular subject. The useful chain is zijn → is: “to be” → “is.” Example: Dat is goed. — “That is good.” alles means “everything” or, in this sentence, “all [of it].” It is an indefinite pronoun rather than a specific noun. Do not confuse it with iedereen, which means “everyone” and refers to people. Example: Alles is klaar. — “Everything is ready.” voor vandaag means “for today.” voor introduces the time period for which something applies, and vandaag means “today.” Example: Dat is genoeg voor vandaag. — “That is enough for today.” Together, Dat is alles voor vandaag. says “That is all for today.” The structure is demonstrative subject + zijn (“to be”) + alles (“all/everything”) + a time phrase specifying today. In a natural closing, it indicates that the relevant activity, information, or task is finished for the current day, without specifying exactly what the understood “that” refers to.

5. Fijne nacht.

   Have a good night.

   Fijne

   good; pleasant

   nacht

   night

   More detail

   Fijne describes nacht and means “good” or “pleasant” here. Its base form is fijn; fijne is the form used before this noun in the fixed expression. In Dutch, an attributive adjective commonly takes -e before a singular common-gender noun such as de nacht (“the night”). This is not a comparative form: fijner means “more pleasant,” while fijnst(e) is a superlative form. nacht is the noun “night.” Its useful plural is nachten (“nights”): een nacht means “a night,” and twee nachten means “two nights.” Together, Fijne nacht is a conventional short wish meaning “Have a good night.” The phrase leaves the verb and addressee understood; it is not simply a description that a particular night is pleasant. It is suitable as a friendly closing wish.

6. Tot de volgende keer.

   See you next time.

   Tot de volgende keer.

   See you next time.

   volgende

   next

   keer

   time; occasion

   More detail

   Tot de volgende keer is a fixed Dutch farewell formula. Here tot means “until” and introduces the point up to which the speaker expects the next meeting or contact. In this expression, tot is part of the formula rather than a complete farewell on its own. volgende means “next” or “following.” It is the adjective associated with keer and has the -e form used here in this noun phrase: de volgende keer. The related verb volgen means “to follow,” but volgende in this sentence means the one that comes next in time. Example: de volgende dag — “the next day.” keer is the noun “time” in the sense of an occasion or occurrence, as in “the next time.” Its article is de: de keer; its plural is keren. This sense differs from uses where English “time” refers to duration or clock time. Together, tot + de volgende keer gives “until the next occasion,” and the natural English farewell is “See you next time.”