goedendag
/ɣu.də(n)ˈdɑx/
The English phrase "good day" is translated into Dutch as goedendag. It is also spelled goeiedag.
Meaning: greeting between sunrise and sunset (intj)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| goedendag | /ɣu.də(n)ˈdɑx/ /ɣu.jəˈdɑx/ |
|
| goeiedag | /ɣu.jə.ˈdɑx/ | alternative form |
goedendag is a greeting used between sunrise and sunset.
Which one should you use?
goeiedag is an alternative spelling of goedendag that reflects a more colloquial, spoken pronunciation where the middle 'n' is dropped.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
goeiedag is colloquial. For a more specific formal greeting used from around noon until early evening, you might use Goedemiddag.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɣu.də(n)ˈdɑx/. The word has three syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The word goedendag is also the name of a medieval polearm weapon that featured a heavy spiked head. It was designed to puncture armor and is an early ancestor of the spiked mace.
- The phrase goedendag uses an old grammatical case called the accusative. This is why the 'n' appears in goeden dag even though modern Dutch has mostly stopped using noun cases.
- In the Netherlands, a greeting like goedendag is often accompanied by a firm handshake and direct eye contact. Avoiding eye contact while greeting someone can be perceived as untrustworthy or shy.
Examples in context
- Goeiedag. Hoe gaat het vandaag met u?Good day. How are you today?This is useful for seeing the spelling of goeiedag in a polite question.Tatoeba #10714819 by Micsmithel, translation #54599 by AlanF_US
- Goedendag, waarmee kan ik u van dienst zijn?Good day, how may I help you?This shows how to use goedendag when offering assistance.Tatoeba #399627 by Dorenda, translation #399628 by Dorenda
- Waarom zegt men "Goedendag" wanneer de dag niet goed is?Why does one say "Good day" when the day is not good?This illustrates the use of goedendag in a rhetorical question.Tatoeba #381101 by Dorenda, translation #1781 by Zifre
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Julia meet at a local market.
- LucasGoedendag, Julia!Good day, Julia!
- JuliaHoi Lucas, hoe is het?Hi Lucas, how are things?
- LucasHeel goed, dank je.Very well, thank you.
- JuliaFijn om je te zien!Nice to see you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good day” translations and entries goedendag, goeiedag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries goedendag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
