Frisian Phrases – Essential West Frisian Phrasebook
Looking for essential Frisian phrases? This phrasebook covers the most useful West Frisian (Frysk) phrases for everyday conversations. Each phrase includes the Frisian text, English translation, and a pronunciation guide. Frisian is the closest living language to English, so many phrases will feel surprisingly familiar.
Greetings and Basics
English
Frisian
Pronunciation
Hello
Goeie
GOO-yuh
Good morning
Goeie moarn
GOO-yuh mwarn
Good afternoon
Goeie middei
GOO-yuh MID-day
Good evening
Goeie jûn
GOO-yuh yoon
Goodbye
Oant sjen
WAHNT syen
See you later
Oant moarn
WAHNT mwarn
How are you?
Hoe is it mei dy?
HOO is ut may dee
I am fine
It giet goed
Ut geet good
What is your name?
Wat is dyn namme?
Vat is dine NAH-muh
My name is…
Myn namme is…
Mine NAH-muh is
Polite Expressions
English
Frisian
Pronunciation
Please
Asjebleaft
AH-shuh-bleeft
Thank you
Tankewol
TAHN-kuh-wol
Thank you very much
Tige tank
TEE-guh tahnk
You are welcome
Graach dien
Grahch deen
Excuse me
Sorry
SOR-ee
I am sorry
It spyt my
Ut spite may
Yes
Ja
YAH
No
Nee
NAY
Nummers
English
Frisian
Pronunciation
One
Ien
EEN
Two
Twa
TVAH
Three
Trije
TREE-yuh
Four
Fjouwer
FYOW-wur
Five
Fiif
FEEF
Six
Seis
SAYS
Seven
Sân
SAWN
Eight
Acht
AHCHT
Nine
Njoggen
NYOG-gun
Ten
Tsien
TSEEN
Useful Travel Phrases
English
Frisian
Pronunciation
Where is…?
Wêr is…?
VEHR is
How much does it cost?
Wat kostet it?
Vat KOS-tut ut
I do not understand
Ik begryp it net
Ick buh-GRIPE ut net
Do you speak English?
Prate jo Ingelsk?
PRAH-tuh yo ING-ulsk
I am learning Frisian
Ik lear Frysk
Ick leer FREESK
Cheers!
Tsjoch!
CHOCH
The bill, please
De rekken, asjebleaft
Duh REK-kun, AH-shuh-bleeft
Food and Drink
English
Frisian
Pronunciation
Water
Wetter
VET-tur
Beer
Bier
BEER
Coffee
Kofje
KOF-yuh
Bread
Brea
BRAY-ah
Cheese
Tsiis
TSEESS
Milk
Molke
MOL-kuh
Learn More Frisian
Want to go beyond basic phrases? Start our free Frisian course with over 800 interactive lessons covering vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and more. You can also explore our Frisian Dictionary to look up individual words.
About the Frisian Language
Frisian (Frysk) is a West Germanic language spoken by about 500,000 people in the Dutch province of Friesland. It is the closest living relative of English, which means many Frisian words are recognizable to English speakers. Common examples include: wetter (water), brea (bread), tsiis (cheese), and griene (green). Learning these phrases is the perfect way to start your Frisian language journey.
