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The literal translation of "What do you want?" is "Wat wil je?", and this is considered impolite. You're unlikely to hear this from a Dutch waiter. You might he
by jules 9y ago
The literal translation of "What do you want?" is "Wat wil je?", and this is considered impolite. You're unlikely to hear this from a Dutch waiter. You might hear "Wat wilt u?", but even this is rather curtly. The words "je" and "u" both get translated to "you" in English. "U" signifies respect.
- Fnoord 9y ago"U" is the equivalent of "Sie" in German, but the Germans are far more gründlich (thorough) with using Sie correct. It instantly makes you feel more a respected customer.
- tankenmate 9y agoIn middle English and early modern English there was the distinction between thou and you (nominative case; thee and you for the accusative/dative case), the first is familiar and the second is polite. Obviously these days the familiar has been dropped and so indirect idiom takes the place of the honorific.