You start in Dutch.

Maybe at the bakery. Maybe at work. Maybe at the pharmacy.

The first sentence goes fine.

“Goedemorgen.”

“Een afspraak maken, alstublieft.”

“Ik heb een vraag.”

Then the other person answers.

Fast.

Too fast.

You catch one word. Maybe two. Then your brain starts searching, translating and panicking at the same time.

This moment is normal.

It happens to almost everyone who learns Dutch. Not because you know nothing, but because real conversations move differently from course exercises. People speak faster. They shorten words. They use phrases you have not heard before. They ask follow up questions.

The problem is not only that you do not understand.

The bigger problem is that you do not know what to say next.

So you switch to English.

That works. But it also stops the Dutch practice exactly when you need it most.

This guide gives you the phrases you need when you do not understand Dutch. Not long textbook sentences. Short useful phrases you can use in real conversations.

The most useful sentence is:

Kunt u dat herhalen?

It means:

Could you repeat that?

Use this with people you do not know well, or in more formal situations. At the municipality, at the doctor, at the pharmacy, in a shop, with customer service.

A more informal version is:

Kun je dat herhalen?

Use this with colleagues, classmates, friends, neighbours your age, or people who already speak to you informally.

Both are normal. Both are useful.

If you only remember one phrase from this article, remember this one.

Kunt u dat herhalen?

It gives you a second chance without leaving the conversation.

Many learners say this too soon:

Sorry, I don’t speak Dutch.

It is understandable. You feel stuck. You want to escape the awkward moment.

But this sentence often ends the Dutch part of the conversation. The other person switches to English, and you lose a useful practice moment.

A better sentence is:

Sorry, ik leer Nederlands. Kunt u dat herhalen?

This means:

Sorry, I am learning Dutch. Could you repeat that?

This sentence changes the whole situation.

You are not saying, “Please stop speaking Dutch.”

You are saying, “I want to continue, but I need help.”

Most people understand that.

For informal situations:

Sorry, ik leer Nederlands. Kun je dat herhalen?

At work, with a colleague, this usually feels natural.

Sometimes repetition is not enough. If someone repeats the same sentence at the same speed, you still miss it.

Then ask for slower Dutch.

Kunt u iets langzamer praten?

This means:

Could you speak a little more slowly?

Informal version:

Kun je iets langzamer praten?

This phrase is better than only saying “slowly please,” because it sounds like a normal Dutch sentence.

You can also make it softer:

Sorry, kunt u iets langzamer praten? Ik leer Nederlands.

Sorry, could you speak a little more slowly? I am learning Dutch.

That gives the other person context. You are not criticizing their speech. You are asking for help.

Sometimes the speed is fine, but the words are too difficult.

Then you need a different sentence.

Kunt u het makkelijker zeggen?

This means:

Could you say it in an easier way?

Informal version:

Kun je het makkelijker zeggen?

This is very useful in daily life. At the gemeente, with a doctor, at school, or at work.

You can also say:

Kunt u het met andere woorden zeggen?

Could you say it in other words?

This one is useful when you understood the topic, but not the exact sentence.

For example, someone says something about your appointment, but the sentence is too long. You understand afspraak, morgen and meenemen, but not the whole message.

Then you say:

Sorry, kunt u het met andere woorden zeggen?

That often helps more than asking for a direct repeat.

This is one of the best ways to keep a conversation in Dutch.

Do not only say you did not understand.

Say which part you did understand.

For example:

Ik begrijp “morgen”, maar niet de rest.

I understand “tomorrow”, but not the rest.

Or:

Ik begrijp het eerste deel. Kunt u het laatste deel herhalen?

I understand the first part. Could you repeat the last part?

This sounds simple, but it works well.

It gives the other person something to work with. They do not need to repeat everything. They know where you got lost.

Other useful versions:

Ik begrijp dit woord niet.

I do not understand this word.

Ik begrijp de vraag niet.

I do not understand the question.

Ik begrijp het niet helemaal.

I do not fully understand it.

That last sentence is useful because it is less direct than “I do not understand anything.” It means you understood part of it, but not enough.

Often you understand enough to guess.

But guessing in another language is risky.

So check.

Dus ik moet morgen terugkomen?

So I need to come back tomorrow?

Dus de afspraak is om tien uur?

So the appointment is at ten o’clock?

Dus ik hoef niets te doen?

So I do not need to do anything?

Dus ik moet dit formulier invullen?

So I need to fill in this form?

This is one of the most useful speaking habits you can build.

You repeat the main point in simple Dutch. The other person confirms or corrects you.

This works well because you do not need perfect Dutch. You need enough Dutch to check the meaning.

Another strong phrase is:

Bedoelt u...?

It means:

Do you mean...?

Informal version:

Bedoel je...?

Use it when you want to check a word, date, action or meaning.

Examples:

Bedoelt u maandag of dinsdag?

Do you mean Monday or Tuesday?

Bedoelt u dat ik moet bellen?

Do you mean I need to call?

Bedoelt u deze brief?

Do you mean this letter?

At work:

Bedoel je dat ik dit vandaag moet afmaken?

Do you mean I need to finish this today?

This phrase helps you stay active in the conversation. You are not only waiting for the other person to explain. You are checking the meaning yourself.

This happens a lot.

You start in Dutch. The other person hears your accent or notices you are searching for words. Then they answer in English.

Usually they mean well.

They want to make the conversation easier.

But if your goal is to practise Dutch, it can be frustrating.

A useful response is:

Dank je, maar ik wil graag Nederlands oefenen.

Thanks, but I would like to practise Dutch.

A slightly softer version:

Dank je, Engels is makkelijker, maar ik wil graag Nederlands oefenen.

Thanks, English is easier, but I would like to practise Dutch.

In a shop or at the station, you may not always want to do this. Sometimes you just need to finish the task.

But with colleagues, neighbours, teachers, friends or people you see often, this sentence helps.

It tells them what you need.

Staying in Dutch is good practice. But not every situation is a language lesson.

If something is medical, legal, financial or urgent, use the language that gives the clearest result.

At the doctor, you might start in Dutch, but switch to English when details matter.

At the municipality, you might ask for easier Dutch first, but use English if you need to understand a rule exactly.

At work, you might practise Dutch in small talk, but use English for a deadline if misunderstanding would cause problems.

That is not failure.

That is practical.

A good learner does not force Dutch everywhere. A good learner knows when Dutch practice is useful and when clarity matters more.

These short scripts help you in common situations.

You do not need to memorize all of them. Pick the ones you need most.

At the pharmacy

You

Goedemiddag. Ik heb een vraag over dit medicijn.

Good afternoon. I have a question about this medicine.

Pharmacy assistant answers too fast

You

Sorry, ik leer Nederlands. Kunt u iets langzamer praten?

Sorry, I am learning Dutch. Could you speak a little more slowly?

Assistant explains again

You

Ik begrijp “twee keer per dag”. Bedoelt u ’s ochtends en ’s avonds?

I understand “twice a day”. Do you mean morning and evening?

This is a good script because you do three things.

You explain you are learning.
You slow the conversation down.
You check the important detail.

You

Ik wil graag een afspraak maken.

I would like to make an appointment.

Dentist assistant asks a question

You

Sorry, kunt u dat herhalen?

Sorry, could you repeat that?

Assistant repeats

You

Bedoelt u deze week of volgende week?

Do you mean this week or next week?

If dates are difficult, repeat them back.

Dus de afspraak is op donderdag om half drie?

So the appointment is on Thursday at half past two?

This helps you avoid mistakes.

Work conversations are harder because people speak more naturally. They interrupt each other. They use short phrases. They assume you know the context.

Useful sentences:

Kun je dat laatste deel herhalen?

Could you repeat the last part?

Ik begrijp het idee, maar niet precies wat ik moet doen.

I understand the idea, but not exactly what I need to do.

Bedoel je dat ik dit vandaag moet afmaken?

Do you mean I need to finish this today?

Municipality conversations often involve words you do not use every day.

Registration. Documents. Appointments. Proof. DigiD. Forms.

A good script:

Sorry, ik leer Nederlands. Kunt u het iets makkelijker zeggen?

Sorry, I am learning Dutch. Could you say it a little more simply?

Moet ik een formulier invullen?

Do I need to fill in a form?

Waar kan ik dat vinden?

Where can I find that?

Moet ik nog iets meenemen?

Do I need to bring anything else?

This keeps the conversation practical.

You do not need to understand every word. You need to understand the action.

If you have children, Dutch messages from school or daycare can be hard. The words are often simple, but the context is specific.

Useful sentences:

Ik begrijp het bericht niet helemaal.

I do not fully understand the message.

Moet mijn kind iets meenemen?

Does my child need to bring something?

Is dit verplicht?

Is this required?

Hoe laat moeten we er zijn?

What time do we need to be there?

Kunt u het ook per e-mail sturen?

Could you also send it by email?

Written follow up helps. You can read it slowly later.

Phone calls are often harder than face to face conversations.

You cannot see gestures. You cannot read lips. You cannot point at a form or letter.

So use shorter sentences.

Sorry, ik versta u niet goed.

Sorry, I cannot hear you well.

This phrase is useful when the sound is unclear.

If the sound is fine, but the Dutch is too fast, say:

Sorry, ik leer Nederlands. Kunt u iets langzamer praten?

If you need the person to repeat one detail:

Kunt u de datum nog een keer zeggen?

Could you say the date again?

Kunt u het adres herhalen?

Could you repeat the address?

Kunt u dat per e-mail sturen?

Could you send that by email?

On the phone, do not try to understand everything. Focus on the key details: date, time, place, action.

Dutch has two useful verbs here.

Horen means to hear.

Verstaan means to understand what someone says when listening.

So if the sound is too soft or unclear, you say:

Ik hoor u niet goed.

I cannot hear you well.

If you hear the sound, but do not understand the words, you say:

Ik versta u niet goed.

I cannot understand you well.

This difference is useful in phone calls.

If the connection is bad:

Ik hoor u niet goed.

If the person speaks too fast:

Ik versta u niet goed. Kunt u iets langzamer praten?

Another useful difference:

Begrijpen means to understand the meaning.

Verstaan means to understand spoken words.

If someone says a sentence and you miss the words, use verstaan.

Sorry, ik versta u niet.

Sorry, I do not understand what you are saying.

If you hear the words, but do not understand the meaning, use begrijpen.

Sorry, ik begrijp het niet.

Sorry, I do not understand it.

Example:

You hear every word in a sentence about health insurance, but the rule is unclear.

Say:

Ik begrijp het niet helemaal. Kunt u het uitleggen?

I do not fully understand it. Could you explain it?

This sounds more natural than using the same phrase for every problem.

Dutch has two versions of “you”.

U is formal.

Je is informal.

With strangers, customer service, doctors, pharmacists, municipality workers or older people you do not know, u is the safer choice.

With colleagues, friends, classmates and people your age in casual settings, je is common.

So you get pairs like:

Kunt u dat herhalen?

Formal.

Kun je dat herhalen?

Informal.

Kunt u iets langzamer praten?

Formal.

Kun je iets langzamer praten?

Informal.

Do not worry too much about this.

If you use u too often, you may sound a bit formal. That is usually fine.

If you use je in a formal situation, it is often still understood, but u sounds more polite.

When in doubt, use u.

If you are a beginner, do not try to learn twenty phrases at once.

Start with these:

Sorry, ik leer Nederlands.

Sorry, I am learning Dutch.

Kunt u dat herhalen?

Could you repeat that?

Kunt u iets langzamer praten?

Could you speak a little more slowly?

Ik begrijp het niet helemaal.

I do not fully understand it.

Kunt u het makkelijker zeggen?

Could you say it more simply?

Bedoelt u maandag of dinsdag?

Do you mean Monday or Tuesday?

Kunt u dat opschrijven?

Could you write that down?

These sentences give you control.

Not perfect control. Enough control to stay in the conversation a little longer.

Dutch Online teaches Dutch step by step from A1 to B2.

You learn useful vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar and pronunciation with native audio and interactive exercises. You also practise with speaking exercises, pronunciation feedback, writing feedback and weekly online speaking classes.

This matters because real conversations need more than passive knowledge.

You need to hear Dutch.
You need to say Dutch sentences out loud.
You need to build answers.
You need feedback.
You need repetition.

A phrase like Kunt u dat herhalen? is simple. But it only helps if it comes out naturally when you need it.

That takes practice.