u
You (Formal)
U is the formal way to say 'you' in Dutch. It is used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings to show respect.
How It Works
In Dutch, choosing between formal and informal 'you' is known as the T-V distinction. While the category is named after Latin vos, the Dutch word u actually originated as a contraction of the 17th-century honorific Uwe Edelheid (Your Nobility).
1. When to use it:
Use u when addressing someone you don't know well, someone significantly older, or someone in a position of authority. In the Netherlands, people are becoming more informal, but in Belgium, u remains very common.
2. Conjugation:
For regular verbs, the form for u is identical to the third-person singular (hij/zij/het). You add a -t to the verb stem.
- U werkt (You work)
- U spreekt (You speak)
3. The verb 'zijn':
The verb zijn (to be) is a special case. While the third-person form u is is grammatically correct, most Dutch speakers use the second-person form u bent.
4. Inversion in Questions:
A key difference from jij is that u keeps its -t when the verb comes first in a question.
- Werkt u? (Do you work?) - Correct
- Werk u? - Incorrect
5. Object Form:
Unlike jij (subject) which becomes jou (object), u stays the same whether it is the subject or the object of the sentence.
- U helpt mij. (You help me.)
- Ik help u. (I help you.)
Examples (5)
- Kunt u mij helpen?
Can you help me?
Word by Word: Can you me help?
A standard polite request using the formal 'u'.
- U bent erg vriendelijk.
You are very kind.
Word by Word: You are very friendly.
Uses the formal 'u' with the verb zijn. Note that 'u bent' is the most common form.
- Heeft u uw paspoort?
Do you have your passport?
Word by Word: Have you your passport?
Shows the use of 'u' as a subject and uw as the possessive 'your'.
- Ik heb een cadeau voor u.
I have a gift for you.
Word by Word: I have a gift for you.
Demonstrates 'u' used as an object after a preposition.
- Dames en heren, bent u klaar?
Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?
Word by Word: Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?
Shows 'u' being used as a formal plural pronoun for a group.
Common Mistakes
Dropping the -t in questions (treating it like 'jij').
Spreek u Nederlands?Spreekt u Nederlands?Unlike 'jij', the pronoun 'u' always requires the -t ending on the verb, even in inversion.
Confusing 'u' (you) with 'uw' (your).
Is dit voor uw?Is dit voor u?'U' is the pronoun for the person, while uw is only used for possession.
Capitalizing 'u' in the middle of a sentence.
Ik zie U morgen.Ik zie u morgen.Modern Dutch only capitalizes 'u' when referring to a deity or in extremely formal, old-fashioned correspondence.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'u', a learner needs to be familiar with the basic singular subject pronouns and how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, as 'u' follows the same conjugation rules as 'jij' and 'hij/zij'.
Related Patterns
- u / jijU or Jij?
This guide helps you decide when to use the formal 'u' versus the informal 'jij'.
Level 2 - ik/jij/hij/zijSubject Pronouns Singular
The basic set of singular subject pronouns in Dutch.
Level 1 - uwYour (Formal)
The possessive form ('your') that corresponds to the formal 'u'.
Level 1 - Dropping -t Before Jij
Contrasts with 'u' because 'jij' drops the -t in questions, while 'u' does not.
Level 1 - alstublieft/alsjeblieftPlease
The formal and informal ways to say 'please', matching the 'u' and 'jij' distinction.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice u in Bubblegum
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