Telling your name
Je naam vertellen
- Tell your name and ask for the name of somebody
- Titles and ways of addressing people. (Mister, miss,...)
- Introduce yourself
- The alphabet and pronunciation
Learn to introduce yourself and ask for names in Dutch with key expressions like 'Hallo, ik heet...' (Hello, my name is...) and important words such as 'voornaam' (first name) and 'achternaam' (last name). Practice polite and informal conversations to master everyday greetings.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
A1.2.1 Dialoog
In een online conversatieles van coLanguage
In an online conversation class of coLanguage
Vocabulary (10) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Put the following words in the correct category: words that refer to people and words related to introducing yourself.
Personen
Introductie en naam
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
De jongen
The boy
2
De meneer
The gentleman
3
Het meisje
The girl
4
Zeggen
To say
5
Zich voorstellen
To introduce oneself
Oefening 5: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Say the full name and the last name of each person. (Say the full name and the last name of each person.)
- Play a dialogue in which you ask someone for their name and introduce yourself. (Play a dialogue in which you ask someone for their name and introduce yourself.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
De achternaam van Heidi is Schulz. The last name of Heidi is Schulz. |
|
De bijnaam van Heidi is Abuelita. The nickname of Heidi is Abuelita. |
|
Hoe heet je? What is your name? |
|
Mijn naam is Sofia. My name is Sofia. |
|
Mijn volledige naam is Sofia Rossi. Mi nombre completo es Sofia Rossi. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Hallo, ik ____ Jan.
(Hello, I ____ Jan.)2. En jij, hoe ____ jij?
(And you, what ____ you?)3. Deze meneer ____ dat hij Tom heet.
(This gentleman ____ that his name is Tom.)4. Wij ____ onze naam in het Nederlands.
(We ____ our name in Dutch.)Exercise 8: Saying your name
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Heten - Be called
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik heet
- jij heet
- hij/zij/het heet
- wij heten
- jullie heten
- zij heten
Zeggen - Say
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik zeg
- jij zegt
- hij/zij/het zegt
- wij zeggen
- jullie zeggen
- zij zeggen
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Heten to be called Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) heet | I am called |
| (jij) heet/heette | You are called/You were called |
| (hij/zij/het) heet | he/she/it is called |
| (wij) heten | we are called |
| (jullie) heten | you are called |
| (zij) heten | they are called |
Zeggen to say Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) zeg | I say |
| (jij) zegt / zeg | you say |
| (hij/zij/het) zegt | he/she/it says |
| (wij) zeggen | we say |
| (jullie) zeggen | you say |
| (zij) zeggen | they say |
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Introduction to the Lesson: Telling Your Name in Dutch
This lesson is designed for A1 level learners to practice and master how to introduce themselves and ask for others’ names in Dutch. You will learn essential vocabulary, expressions, and sentence structures used in everyday situations such as meeting people at work, social events, or informal settings. The content focuses on pronunciation, spelling, and polite ways of addressing others in Dutch.
Core Vocabulary and Expressions
Key words and phrases include:
- de naam (the name)
- de voornaam (the first name)
- heten (to be called)
- zich voorstellen (to introduce oneself)
- Common polite terms: meneer (Mr.), mevrouw (Mrs./Ms.)
You will also encounter words referring to people like de jongen (the boy), de mevrouw (the lady), de meneer (the gentleman), and het meisje (the girl), which help in forming realistic dialogues.
Important Verbs: Heten and Zeggen
The verbs heten (to be called) and zeggen (to say) are essential in this lesson. You'll practice their present tense forms for effective communication about names.
Conjugation Examples:
- ik heet (I am called)
- jij heet (you are called)
- hij/zij/het heet (he/she/it is called)
- wij heten (we are called)
- ik zeg (I say)
- jij zegt (you say)
Dialogue Practice
You will find several example dialogues reflecting common real-life situations—for instance, greeting colleagues at work, chatting informally in a bar, or introducing yourself at a party. These dialogues provide natural context to practice both formal and informal ways to ask and tell names.
Examples:
- "Hallo, ik heet Jan. En jij?"
- "Hoe spel je je naam?" (How do you spell your name?)
- "Mag ik vragen wat uw achternaam is, meneer?" (May I ask what your last name is, sir?)
Differences Between English and Dutch Introductions
In Dutch, it is common to distinguish between formal and informal speech when introducing yourself or asking for someone's name. For example, u is the polite form of "you," while jij or je is informal. Using titles such as meneer and mevrouw is common in formal situations. Also, the verb heten is the standard way to express "to be called" a name, rather than saying "I am" as in English.
Useful phrases:
- Hoe heet u? — What is your name? (formal)
- Hoe heet jij? — What is your name? (informal)
- Ik heet... — My name is...
- Mag ik uw naam spellen? — May I spell your name? (formal)
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