Dag, hoe gaat het?
everyday
A natural Flemish greeting is Dag, hoe gaat het? With someone you address politely, use Hoe gaat het met u? It is also called Hallo, hoe gaat het ermee?
Meaning: greeting asking about someone's well-being (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | Note |
|---|---|
| Dag, hoe gaat het? | everyday |
| Hoe gaat het met u? | formal |
| Hallo, hoe gaat het ermee? | friendly |
Dag works as "hello" and as "goodbye" in Flanders. After it comes the question, and the answer is often Goed, en met jou?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use u with older people, in shops and at work when you do not know each other. Friends and family use je or jij in Hoe gaat het met je?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Flanders many people also greet with Dag alone, and young people often say Hey or Hallo.
Did you know?
- In Flanders dag can greet someone and also say goodbye, which surprises many learners.
Examples in context
- Dag, hoe gaat het?Hello, how are you?
- Goedemorgen, hoe gaat het met u?Good morning, how are you?
- Hallo, hoe gaat het ermee?Hi, how is it going?
Example conversation
Marie meets her neighbor Mr. Peeters on the street in Mechelen.
- MarieDag meneer Peeters, hoe gaat het met u?Hello Mr. Peeters, how are you?
- Meneer PeetersGoed, dank je. En met jou?Good, thank you. And you?
- MarieOok goed, bedankt.Also good, thanks.
