Waiting in line | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Waiting in line to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Is deze rij voor de balie?

iss DAY-zuh RYE fohr duh BAH-lee? Is this line for the counter?

Hier begint de rij.

heer buh-GHINT duh RYE. This is where it starts.

Heb ik een kaartje nodig?

hehp ik un KART-yuh NOH-dikh? Do I need a ticket?

Pak een kaartje uit deze doos.

pahk un KART-yuh OYT DAY-zuh DOHS. Take one from this box.

Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?

vah-NAIR behn ik ahn duh BURT? When is my turn?

U bent na die persoon.

uu behnt nah dee POR-sohn. You're after that person.

Ik wacht hier.

ik VAHKHT heer. I will wait here.

De persoon voor u is bijna klaar.

duh por-SOHN fohr uu iss BAY-nah KLAHR. The person ahead is almost finished.

Word by Word

Is “Is” means “is” and starts the question “Is deze rij voor de balie?” It is placed before the subject in this question, and it can be reused when asking whether something is a particular thing or is in a particular situation.

deze “deze” means “this” and points to the particular queue being discussed in “Is deze rij voor de balie?” It is placed before the noun it identifies, so it can be reused to point out a specific nearby thing.

rij “rij” means “line” or “queue” in “Is deze rij voor de balie?” and “Hier begint de rij.” It is used with “de” in these dialogue phrases and is useful when talking about where a queue is or starts.

voor “voor” means “for” in “voor de balie” and means “in front of” in “voor u.” The surrounding words determine whether it identifies the counter a queue serves or the position of a person in the queue.

de “de” means “the” in the noun phrases “de rij,” “de balie,” and “de persoon.” It is placed before each specific noun phrase here and can be reused when referring to a particular thing or person.

balie “balie” means “counter” or “service desk” in “voor de balie.” It names the place the queue is for and can be reused when asking about or directing someone to a service counter.

Hier “Hier” means “here” and identifies the place where the queue starts in “Hier begint de rij.” It is useful for pointing out a location, especially when giving directions or identifying where to wait.

begint “begint” means “starts” or “begins” in “Hier begint de rij.” It describes where the queue starts, and it can be reused to say where an event, route, or activity starts.

Heb “Heb” means “have” in the question “Heb ik een kaartje nodig?” It appears at the beginning because this is a question, and it can be reused in questions about whether someone has or needs something.

ik “ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Heb ik een kaartje nodig?” and “Ik wacht hier.” It is used with the speaker’s own action, need, or situation.

een “een” means “a” in “een kaartje” and introduces one non-specific ticket. It is placed before the noun and can be reused before a singular item when the exact item is not yet specified.

kaartje “kaartje” means “ticket” in “Heb ik een kaartje nodig?” and “Pak een kaartje uit deze doos.” It is the item someone may need to take before waiting, so it can be reused when referring to a ticket in a service or queue system.

nodig “nodig” gives the meaning “needed” in “Heb ik een kaartje nodig?” It completes the question about necessity, and the reusable question pattern keeps the thing that may be needed between “Heb ik” and “nodig.”

Pak “Pak” means “take” or “pick up” in the instruction “Pak een kaartje uit deze doos.” It is used to tell someone to take an object, with the object following it in this sentence.

uit “uit” means “from” or “out of” in “uit deze doos.” It identifies the source from which the ticket should be taken and can be reused before a container or place that something comes out of.

doos “doos” means “box” in “uit deze doos.” It names the container holding the tickets and can be reused when referring to an object from which something is taken.

Wanneer “Wanneer” means “when” and introduces the question “Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?” It is used to ask about the time or point at which something happens.

ben “ben” means “am” in “Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?” and is used with “ik.” Here it links the speaker to their position in the turn order, and it can be reused when describing the speaker’s current situation.

aan de beurt “aan de beurt” means “whose turn it is” or “being next.” In this expression, “aan” is part of the construction, “de” means “the,” and “beurt” refers to a turn; together they describe a person’s place in an ordered sequence. It is useful for asking or stating who should be served next.

U “U” means formal “you” in “U bent na die persoon.” It addresses one person politely and can be reused when speaking formally to someone whose turn or position is being discussed.

bent “bent” means “are” in “U bent na die persoon” and is used with “U.” It describes the listener’s position after another person, and it can be reused to state the listener’s situation or position.

na “na” means “after” in “na die persoon.” It places the listener later in the queue than the person mentioned and can be reused to show that one person or event follows another.

die “die” means “that” in “die persoon” and points to the particular person being indicated. It is placed before “persoon” and can be reused when referring to a specific person or thing already identifiable in the situation.

persoon “persoon” means “person” in “die persoon” and “De persoon voor u.” It identifies someone in the queue and can be reused when talking about an individual without naming them.

wacht “wacht” means “wait” in “Ik wacht hier.” It describes the speaker’s action while remaining in the queue and can be reused with a location to say where someone is waiting.

bijna “bijna” means “almost” in “bijna klaar.” It shows that the person is close to being finished but has not finished yet, and it can be reused before a word describing an approaching state or point.

klaar “klaar” means “finished” in “De persoon voor u is bijna klaar.” Here it says that the person ahead is nearly done at the counter, and it can be reused to describe something that has reached its end or is ready for the next step.

Grammar Points

aan de beurt zijn

Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?

vah-NAIR behn ik ahn duh BURT?

When is it my turn?

Aan de beurt zijn is a fixed Dutch expression meaning that it is someone's turn.

bijna + adjective

Bijna klaar.

BAY-nah KLAHR.

Almost ready.

Bijna is an adverb placed before the adjective klaar to mean “almost ready.”

Dutch Vocabulary

aan de beurt phrase

ahn duh BURT one's turn

Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?

balie noun

BAH-lee counter, desk

Is deze rij voor de balie?

beginnen verb

buh-GHIN-uhn to start, to begin begint

Hier begint de rij.

deze det

DAY-zuh this

Is deze rij voor de balie?

doos noun

DOHS box

Pak een kaartje uit deze doos.

hier adv

HEER here Hier

Hier begint de rij.

kaartje noun

KART-yuh ticket

Heb ik een kaartje nodig?

nodig adj

NOH-dikh needed, necessary

Heb ik een kaartje nodig?

pakken verb

PAH-kuhn to take, to grab Pak

Pak een kaartje uit deze doos.

rij noun

RYE line, queue

Is deze rij voor de balie?

wanneer adv

vah-NAIR when Wanneer

Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?

zijn verb

zayn to be ben

Wanneer ben ik aan de beurt?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is this line for the counter?

Show Answer

Is deze rij voor de balie?

This is where it starts.

Show Answer

Hier begint de rij.

Do I need a ticket?

Show Answer

Heb ik een kaartje nodig?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start, to begin

Show Answer

begint

ticket

Show Answer

kaartje

here

Show Answer

Hier

counter, desk

Show Answer

balie