A1 Expression Neutre

Succes!

Good luck!

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Dutch way to wish someone 'Good luck' or 'Success' before a task or challenge.

  • Means: 'Success!' or 'Good luck!' (wishing a positive outcome).
  • Used in: Exams, job interviews, sports, or starting a new project.
  • Don't confuse: Use 'Succes' before an event, 'Gefeliciteerd' after it happens.
Upcoming challenge + Friendly support = Succes! 🍀

Explanation at your level:

'Succes!' is a very easy and important word. It means 'Good luck!'. You say it when a friend has a test or a new job. You can say 'Succes!' or 'Veel succes!'. It is very common in the Netherlands. You use it before something happens.
At the A2 level, you should use 'Succes' with the preposition 'met'. For example, 'Succes met je huiswerk'. It is a neutral expression used for both friends and colleagues. Remember to use 'Sterkte' for sad things and 'Succes' for tasks you want to complete well.
In intermediate Dutch, 'Succes' becomes a tool for social cohesion. You'll notice it used in emails as a professional closing: 'Succes met de afronding van het rapport.' It functions as a phatic expression, meaning its purpose is more about maintaining social relationships than conveying new information. You should also recognize the sarcastic usage in informal speech.
Upper-intermediate learners should appreciate the nuance between 'Succes' and its synonyms like 'Zet 'm op'. While 'Succes' focuses on the outcome, 'Zet 'm op' focuses on the effort. At this level, you can use 'Succes' to navigate complex social transitions, such as ending a professional call where the next steps for the other party are clear.
At an advanced level, 'Succes' is analyzed through the lens of Dutch pragmatics. It reflects the 'poldermodel' mentality—a focus on collective and individual achievement through structured effort. The choice between 'Succes', 'Veel succes', and 'Ik wens je alle succes van de wereld' allows for fine-tuning the emotional distance and level of support provided to the interlocutor.
For near-native mastery, one must master the prosodic features that distinguish a sincere wish of 'Succes' from a cynical or dismissive one. The cognitive linguistic aspect of 'Succes' as a performative utterance is key; by saying it, the speaker validates the importance of the listener's upcoming task. It is a quintessential marker of Dutch communicative competence, balancing directness with social support.

Signification

Wishing someone well on a task.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The Dutch value 'nuchterheid' (being down-to-earth). 'Succes' is a pragmatic wish that acknowledges the other person's effort without being overly emotional. In Flanders, 'Succes' is also common, but you might hear 'Veel geluk' slightly more often in casual settings compared to the Netherlands. It is standard practice to end a meeting or an email with 'Succes' if the other party has a clear task to perform. It shows professional alignment. Teachers almost always write 'Succes!' at the top of an exam paper. It's a ritualized part of the Dutch schooling experience.

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The 'Veel' Rule

When in doubt, use 'Veel succes'. It sounds more natural and polite than just 'Succes' in most full sentences.

⚠️

Avoid 'Succes' for Sickness

Never say 'Succes' to someone who is ill. It sounds like you're asking them to perform well at being sick. Use 'Beterschap' instead.

Signification

Wishing someone well on a task.

💡

The 'Veel' Rule

When in doubt, use 'Veel succes'. It sounds more natural and polite than just 'Succes' in most full sentences.

⚠️

Avoid 'Succes' for Sickness

Never say 'Succes' to someone who is ill. It sounds like you're asking them to perform well at being sick. Use 'Beterschap' instead.

🎯

The Sarcastic Twist

If someone says they are going to do something impossible (like 'I'm going to clean the whole house in 5 minutes'), a dry 'Succes...' with a downward intonation is perfectly Dutch.

💬

Email Sign-offs

In business emails, 'Succes met [Project Name]' is a great way to end a message before your signature.

Teste-toi

Fill in the missing word to wish someone luck with their exam.

___ met je examen!

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Succes

We use 'Succes' before a task like an exam.

Match the situation to the correct Dutch expression.

Your friend's grandmother is in the hospital.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Sterkte!

For difficult or sad situations, 'Sterkte' (strength) is the correct choice.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 'Ik ga morgen solliciteren voor die nieuwe baan.' B: 'Wat spannend! ___'

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Veel succes!

A job interview is a classic 'Succes' situation.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Choose the best option:

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Succes met het werk.

'Succes' is almost always paired with the preposition 'met'.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Succes vs. Sterkte

Succes!
Nieuwe baan New job
Examen Exam
Sterkte!
Ziekte Illness
Begrafenis Funeral

Questions fréquentes

14 questions

Yes, if the teacher is about to do something (like give a presentation), but usually, it's the teacher saying it to the student.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

'Succes' is for achievement; 'Geluk' is for luck or happiness. We rarely use 'Geluk' as a short wish.

No, use 'Gefeliciteerd' (Congratulations) or 'Goed gedaan' (Well done).

Simply say 'Dank je wel!' or 'Bedankt!'.

Always 'Succes met'. 'Succes voor' is grammatically incorrect in this context.

No, that would be weird. Use 'Gefeliciteerd' or 'Veel geluk samen'.

It means 'Good luck with it'. It's used when the task was just mentioned.

Yes, it is very common in Flanders as well.

No, use 'Veel plezier' (Have fun) or 'Fijne vakantie'.

It's a quick way to show you care about what the other person is doing.

The noun 'succes' can be pluralized ('successen'), but the expression 'Succes!' is always singular.

Absolutely not. Use 'Sterkte' or 'Gecondoleerd'.

Yes, they share the same Latin root, but the Dutch use it as a common greeting/wish.

Expressions liées

🔗

Sterkte

contrast

Strength/Courage

🔗

Zet 'm op

similar

Go for it / Give it your all

🔗

Gefeliciteerd

builds on

Congratulations

🔗

Toi toi toi

specialized form

Break a leg

🔗

Beterschap

contrast

Get well soon

🔗

Veel plezier

similar

Have fun

Où l'utiliser

📝

Before an exam

Student A: Ik heb nu mijn examen Nederlands.

Student B: O echt? Succes!

neutral
💼

Job Interview

Partner: Ik ga nu naar het sollicitatiegesprek.

Ik: Heel veel succes, je kunt het!

formal
⚽

Sports Match

Coach: Klaar voor de wedstrijd?

Speler: Ja, we gaan winnen!

Coach: Succes jongens, zet 'm op!

informal
🚀

New Project at Work

Collega: Ik begin vandaag aan het nieuwe project.

Manager: Succes met de start!

neutral
🍳

Cooking a Meal

Vriend: Ik ga voor het eerst sushi maken.

Ik: Oei, succes ermee!

informal
🦷

Going to the Dentist

Patiënt: Ik moet naar de tandarts voor een gaatje.

Vriendin: Sterkte... en succes!

neutral
📱

Ending a Text Message

Appje: Ik ga nu leren. Spreek je later!

Antwoord: Is goed. Succes! 🍀

informal
📦

Moving House

Buurman: Morgen gaan we verhuizen naar Utrecht.

Ik: Wat leuk! Succes met de verhuizing.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the English word 'Success'. In Dutch, you don't just *have* success, you *wish* it like a magic spell: 'Succes!'

Visual Association

Imagine a Dutch person in an orange jersey about to run a race, and a crowd of people holding up signs that simply say 'SUCCES!' in bold letters.

Rhyme

Succes met de les! (Success with the lesson!)

Story

Sven is standing in front of a giant stroopwafel tower he needs to climb. His friend Anika shouts 'Succes!' Sven feels empowered, climbs the tower, and wins the prize. Now he always associates the word with reaching the top.

Word Web

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Défi

Today, every time you see someone starting a task (even on TV), whisper 'Succes' to yourself.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¡Mucho éxito! / ¡Mucha suerte!

Dutch uses 'Succes' where Spanish would often prefer 'Suerte'.

French moderate

Bonne chance! / Bon courage!

French distinguishes between luck and effort more sharply than Dutch 'Succes'.

German high

Viel Erfolg!

Almost identical in usage and cultural logic.

Japanese partial

頑張って (Ganbatte)

Dutch wishes for the result; Japanese wishes for the process.

Arabic high

بالتوفيق (Bi-t-tawfiq)

Arabic often has a religious undertone (God granting success) that Dutch lacks.

Chinese moderate

祝你成功 (Zhù nǐ chénggōng)

Dutch 'Succes' is much more common in casual daily speech than the Chinese equivalent.

Korean moderate

행운을 빌어요 (Haeng-uneul bireoyo)

Dutch 'Succes' is more formal than 'Fighting' but less formal than the Korean 'luck' phrase.

Portuguese high

Boa sorte! / Sucesso!

Dutch 'Succes' is the default for almost everything, including small tasks.

Easily Confused

Succes! vs Sterkte

Learners use 'Succes' for funerals or illness because they think it means 'Best wishes'.

If it's a 'win/lose' situation (test, game), use Succes. If it's a 'survive/endure' situation (death, surgery), use Sterkte.

Succes! vs Geluk

English speakers translate 'Good luck' literally to 'Goed geluk'.

'Geluk' is a noun for 'happiness' or 'luck'. As a wish, we almost always use 'Succes'.

FAQ (14)

Yes, if the teacher is about to do something (like give a presentation), but usually, it's the teacher saying it to the student.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

'Succes' is for achievement; 'Geluk' is for luck or happiness. We rarely use 'Geluk' as a short wish.

No, use 'Gefeliciteerd' (Congratulations) or 'Goed gedaan' (Well done).

Simply say 'Dank je wel!' or 'Bedankt!'.

Always 'Succes met'. 'Succes voor' is grammatically incorrect in this context.

No, that would be weird. Use 'Gefeliciteerd' or 'Veel geluk samen'.

It means 'Good luck with it'. It's used when the task was just mentioned.

Yes, it is very common in Flanders as well.

No, use 'Veel plezier' (Have fun) or 'Fijne vakantie'.

It's a quick way to show you care about what the other person is doing.

The noun 'succes' can be pluralized ('successen'), but the expression 'Succes!' is always singular.

Absolutely not. Use 'Sterkte' or 'Gecondoleerd'.

Yes, they share the same Latin root, but the Dutch use it as a common greeting/wish.

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