doei
/dui̯/
The English phrase "bye bye" can be said in Dutch as doei.
doei is used as an informal way of saying goodbye when leaving someone.
Which one should you use?
While doei is a casual way to say goodbye, Tot ziens is used to mean "goodbye" or "see you later" in more formal settings. For a very formal expression equivalent to "farewell", you would use Vaarwel. If you want to say "see you later" informally, you can use Tot later.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
doei is an informal term suitable for use with friends, family or casual acquaintances. In formal situations, you should use Tot ziens or Vaarwel.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the southern dialects of Dutch, especially in North Brabant, people often use the informal term Houdoe to say "bye" or "see ya".
How do you pronounce it?
/dui̯/
Did you know?
- If you use the formal Vaarwel in a casual setting, you might sound like a character from a 19th-century tragic novel or a period drama.
- The word doei is actually a close relative of the word 'day', derived from the older form doeg.
- The word doei is often repeated as doei doei when speaking to children or pets, mirroring the English 'bye bye' in both rhythm and affection.
Examples in context
- Doei.Bye-bye!This sentence shows how to use doei as a standalone parting expression.Tatoeba #7786495 by Micsmithel, translation #6714881 by maaster
- Bedankt voor de vergadering. Tot ziens!Thank you for the meeting. Goodbye!
- Het was leuk je te ontmoeten. Tot weerziens!It was nice meeting you. Until we meet again!
- Ik moet nu gaan. Doei!I have to go now. Bye!
- Doei, tot morgen!Bye, see you tomorrow!
- Doei, tot volgende week.Bye, see you next week.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Sophie are leaving a small coffee shop.
- DaanHet was gezellig, Sophie.It was nice, Sophie.
- SophieJa, echt leuk! Doei, Daan.Yes, really fun! Bye, Daan.
- DaanDoei!Bye!
- SophieTot ziens!See you!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry doei, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries doei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
