Signification
Asking someone to wait briefly.
Contexte culturel
Dutch directness is balanced by these 'frozen' polite phrases. Using them correctly shows you respect the social order. Flemish speakers might use 'alstublieft' more frequently and with a softer tone than Northern Dutch speakers. In Surinamese Dutch, politeness is very important, and formal titles (U, Meneer, Mevrouw) are used more strictly than in the Netherlands. Even in 'flat' hierarchies, this phrase is used to maintain professional boundaries during tasks.
The Power of 'Even'
Always include 'even'. Without it, you sound like you are giving a military command.
Don't over-apologize
In Dutch culture, 'Even geduld alstublieft' is enough. You don't need to say 'I'm so sorry' ten times.
Signification
Asking someone to wait briefly.
The Power of 'Even'
Always include 'even'. Without it, you sound like you are giving a military command.
Don't over-apologize
In Dutch culture, 'Even geduld alstublieft' is enough. You don't need to say 'I'm so sorry' ten times.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to make the phrase polite and formal.
Even ______ alstublieft.
The standard formal phrase is 'Even geduld alstublieft'.
Which phrase is most appropriate for a receptionist to say to a customer?
A customer asks for information and you need to look it up.
This is the standard professional way to ask a customer to wait.
Match the Dutch phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the standard translations for these common waiting phrases.
Complete the dialogue.
Klant: 'Kunt u mij helpen?' Medewerker: 'Ja, ______.'
The employee asks the customer to wait while they prepare to help.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Ways to ask someone to wait
Formal
- • Even geduld alstublieft
- • Een ogenblikje alstublieft
Informal
- • Wacht even
- • Momentje!
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEven ______ alstublieft.
The standard formal phrase is 'Even geduld alstublieft'.
A customer asks for information and you need to look it up.
This is the standard professional way to ask a customer to wait.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the standard translations for these common waiting phrases.
Klant: 'Kunt u mij helpen?' Medewerker: 'Ja, ______.'
The employee asks the customer to wait while they prepare to help.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, in a cafe or with colleagues, 'Momentje!' is very common and perfectly fine.
No, as long as you add 'alstublieft' and use a friendly tone, it is the standard of politeness.
They are almost identical. 'Een ogenblikje' is slightly more formal and common in high-end service.
It is a modal particle that makes the request sound smaller and more polite.
Yes, but it's better to say 'Wij vragen om uw geduld' in very formal writing.
Say 'Even wachten, alsjeblieft' or just 'Even wachten'.
Say 'Dit kan even duren, mijn excuses' (This might take a while, my apologies).
It is one word. It comes from 'als het u belieft'.
Every single day. It is one of the most common phrases in the Dutch language.
Usually 'Natuurlijk' (Of course) or 'Is goed' (That's fine).
Expressions liées
Een ogenblikje
synonymA little moment
Wacht even
informalWait a second
Momentje
similarJust a moment
Blijft u aan de lijn
specialized formStay on the line
