Ways to say it
| Dutch |
|---|
| vrolijk kerstfeest |
| prettig kerstfeest |
These phrases are used to offer good wishes during the Christmas season. Other variations include Een warme en liefdevolle Kerst gewenst!, meaning 'Wishing you a warm and loving Christmas!' and Feestelijke dagen toegewenst!, which means 'Wishing you festive days!'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase vrolijk kerstfeest literally translates to 'merry Christmas feast' or 'cheerful Christmas celebration'.
Which one should you use?
Vrolijk kerstfeest is the most common way to say 'Merry Christmas' and carries an upbeat and warm tone. In contrast, prettig kerstfeest carries the nuance of a 'pleasant' or 'agreeable' Christmas.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use the phrase within a full sentence to wish someone a merry Christmas, you must include the indefinite article een (a), as seen in the phrase een vrolijk kerstfeest.
Did you know?
- While prettig now means 'pleasant' in greetings, it evolved from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'boastful', 'sly' or 'cunning'.
- The word vrolijk shares a Proto-Germanic ancestor with the Old English root for 'frolic'.
- In the Netherlands, it is common to pair vrolijk kerstfeest with a wish for fijne feestdagen, which covers both Christmas and New Year.
Examples in context
- Vrolijk kerstfeest voor u ook.Merry Christmas to you, too.This sentence shows how to respond to a Christmas greeting.Tatoeba #9499948 by Micsmithel, translation #5736627 by CM
- Ik wens u een vrolijk kerstfeest.I wish you a merry Christmas.This sentence demonstrates how to use the phrase in a complete sentence with the required article.Tatoeba #9491303 by Micsmithel, translation #7653919 by CK
- Vrolijk kerstfeest voor u en uw familie.Merry Christmas to you and your family.This sentence shows how to extend the greeting to someone's family.Tatoeba #9525930 by Micsmithel, translation #5679146 by CK
- Vrolijk Kerstfeest! Geniet van een fantastische feestperiode.Merry Christmas! Have a fantastic holiday season.
- Moge je Kerst gevuld zijn met liefde, vreugde en gelach.May your Christmas be filled with love, joy, and laughter.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lucas are saying goodbye to each other before the holidays.
- JuliaVrolijk kerstfeest, Lucas!Merry Christmas, Lucas!
- LucasDank je, Julia. Jij ook!Thank you, Julia. You too!
- JuliaGeniet van je vrije dagen.Enjoy your days off.
- LucasDat ga ik doen. Tot snel!I will. See you soon!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “merry christmas” translations and entries vrolijk kerstfeest, prettig kerstfeest, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kerstfeest, prettig, vrolijk, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
