Here are basic words and conversational phrases in Frisian dialects.
The translations provided following W: are in West Frisian, those following N: are in North Frisian (Mooring dialect).
Where two approximated pronunciations are given, the first is based on Received pronunciation, the second on General American.
| Translation | Phrase | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frisian | W: Frysk N: Frasch |
/fri.sk/ /fraʃ/ |
(freask) (frush/frosh) |
| hello | W: a goeie N: moin |
/ɑ ɡujə/ /mɔɪn/ |
(ah gooye) (moin) |
| good-bye | W: oant sjen N: adjiis |
/ɔnt ʃɛn/ /adjiːs/ |
(ont shen) (a-jeece) |
| please | W: asjeblyft N: weesegödj |
/ɑʃəbli.ft/ /veːsəɡœdj/ |
(ashebleaft) (veerssa gurd / vayssa gud) |
| thank you | W: tige tank N: foole tunk |
/ˈtiːɣə tɑŋk/ /foːlə tʊŋk/ |
(teaghe tank) (fawla/foala toonk) |
| that one | W: dy N: di |
/di/ /dɪ/ |
(dea) (dih) |
| how much? | W: hoefolle? N: hüfoole? |
/hufolə/ /hʏfoːlə/ |
(who folle) (hih fawla/foala) |
| English | W: Ingelsk N: Aingelsch |
/iŋəlsk/ /aɪŋəlʃ/ |
(ingelsk) (ayngelsh) |
| yes | W: ja N: joo |
/ja/ /joː/ |
(yaah) (yaw/yo) |
| no | W: nee N: nåån |
/ne/ /nɔːn/ |
(nay) (nawn) |
| where's the bathroom? | W: wêr is hjir it húske? N: weer as heer et hüüschen? |
/wɛːr ɪs jɪrət hy.skə/ /veːr as heːr ət hyːʃən/ |
(where is yirret hewske) (veer uss/oss heer ut hewshen) |
| generic toast | W: tsjoch N: sünhäid |
/tʃoχ/ /sʏnhɛɪd/ |
(chokh) (sin-heyd) |
| Do you speak English? | W: kinne jo Ingelsk? N: koost dü Aingelsch? |
/kɪnə jo. ɪŋəlsk/ /koːst ʏ aɪŋəlʃ/ |
(kinne yo ingelsk?) (cawsty/coasty ayngelsh) |
| I don’t understand | W: ik begryp it net N: ik begrip et ai |
/ɪk bəɡri.pət nɛt/ /ɪk bəɡrɪp ət aɪ/ |
(ick begreapet net) (ick begrippet eye) |
| Sorry | W: pardon N: fertrüt me |
/pədɔn/ /fətrʏt mɛ/ |
(p'donn) (fatritt meh) |