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There's Never Been A Better Time |
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For a quick introduction to time words go to
Basic Dutch: Time,
Lesson 6 or
Vocabulary: Numbers -
or go to the
smartphone page
Companion (though smaller) Dutch Thesaurus pages:
- Life
and Change
Ik hoop dat je d'r (er) tijd voor hebt
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'I hope you'll have time for it' |
Niemand heeft genoeg tijd
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'Nobody has enough time' |
Er is niet genoeg tijd
![]() |
'There is not enough time' |
Ze zeggen dat er niet genoeg tijd is
![]() |
[The say that ...] It is said that there is not enough time |
de vierde dimensie
![]() | the fourth dimension |
Basic Time |
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Units | |
Timepieces | |
Telling Time and The Hours of The Day | |
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The Day - and Morning, Afternoon, Evening and Night | |
Meals and Breaks | |
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Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow | |
The Week and The Days of The Week | |
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Special Days | |
The Months and The Seasons | |
Years | |
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Prepositions and Other Little Words |
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Event Placement: | |
At Hours | |
On Days | |
On Special Days | |
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On Dates | |
In Years | |
More Placement Phrases | |
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Query Words and Short Answers | |
In and Within | |
Before and After | |
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From, Till and From ... Till | |
While / In The Meantime / Since | |
Always, Usually, Often and Sometimes | |
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Always (2) - Dutch Steeds - Continually | |
Ever, Never and Rarely | |
Once | |
Early, Late and In Time | |
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(For) A Moment - Dutch 'Even' | |
In A Moment - Dutch 'Zo' | |
A Moment Ago / Just, Barely - Dutch 'Net' | |
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Then - Dutch 'Toen' or 'Dan' | |
When - Introduction | |
When - 'At The Time That' - Dutch 'Toen' | |
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'When' and 'If' - Dutch 'Als' | |
When? | |
Still, Yet | |
Already | |
Changes in Word Order | |
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By Subject |
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The Tides | |
Time | |
Age and Era | |
Time Ago | |
The Past | |
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First and Last, Previous and Next | |
The First Time, The Last Time | |
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Now | |
The Present | |
Immediately, Right Away | |
Hurry, Haste, Urgency | |
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Quick and Slow, Speed | |
Fashion, Modern | |
The Future | |
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Waiting, Expecting ... and Patience | |
Long and Short | |
To Last | |
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How Long? | |
To Remain, To Stay, Keep On | |
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Miscellaneous |
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Remaining Words and Phrases | |
'Times' in Multiplication | |
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The Use of The Plural | |
Verb Tenses | |
Final Words |
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There's a separate page with suggestions for Talking about Time
de / het / 't
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(the) | een, 'n
![]() |
(a) | één
![]() | (one) | >> >> |
(De) tijd
![]() |
time | ||
---|---|---|---|
(de) seconde
![]() |
'second' * | 60 (zestig) seconden in een minuut
![]() |
'60 seconds in a minute' - numbers |
(de) minuut
![]() |
'minute' | 60 (zestig) minuten in een uur
![]() |
'60 minutes in an hour' |
(het) uur
![]() |
'hour' | 24 (vierentwintig) uren in een dag
![]() |
'24 hours in a day' |
(de) dag
![]() |
'day' | 7 (zeven) dagen in een week
![]() 28 (achtentwintig) tot 31 (éénendertig) dagen in een maand ![]() 365 (driehonderdvijfenzestig) dagen in een jaar ![]() |
'7 days in a week'
'28 to 31 days in a month' '365 days in a year' |
(de) week
![]() |
'week' | 52 (tweeënvijftig) weken in een jaar
![]() |
'52 weeks in a year' |
(de) maand
![]() |
'month' | 12 (twaalf) maanden in een jaar
![]() |
'12 months in a year' |
(het) jaar
![]() (de) eeuw ![]() |
'year' 'century' |
100 (honderd) jaren in een eeuw
![]() |
'100 years in a century' |
Do note that dag
('day') has a vowel lengthening in the plural:
dagen
2 ('days') -
dag/dagen
Dag
can also be a short 'goodbye' - "Bye!"
Dutch (de) seconde
is only the time unit 'second.' - 'Number 2' is '(de) tweede'
in Dutch
- ordinal numbers
(Het) kwartier
'15 minutes, quarter of an hour'
- (het) halfuur
2
'30 minutes, half an hour'
- drie kwartier
'45 minutes'
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![]() (de) klok ![]() |
![]() (het) horloge (Fr.) ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() (de) zonnewijzer ![]() |
Ik zette de wekker op zes uur
![]() |
![]() (de) wekradio ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() (de) zandloper ![]() |
![]() (de) keukenwekker ![]() |
![]() ![]()
|
![]() (de) kalender ![]() |
![]() (de) agenda ![]() |
![]() (het) dagboek ![]() |
klok kijken
![]() |
to tell time, reading the clock - more right below |
de klok achteruitzetten
![]() |
to turn back the clock |
de klok stilzetten
![]() |
to stop the clock |
Die klok loopt achter
![]() |
That clock [runs behind] is slow |
Die klok staat voor
![]() |
That clock [stands] is ahead, fast |
De klok staat stil
![]() |
[The clock is standing still] - The clock has stopped |
met de klok mee
![]() |
clockwise |
tegen de klok in
![]() |
counterclockwise, anticlockwise |
de wijzers van de klok
![]() |
the hands of the clock - See also: Slow Dutch |
Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens
2
3
4
5
['There is no place where the clock ticks like at home']
'Home sweet home'
Hoe laat is het?
![]() |
'What's the time?' / 'What time is it? |
Weet jij hoe laat het is?
![]() |
'Do you know what time it is?' / 'Do you have the time?' |
Klok kijken
![]() |
'to tell time, reading the clock' |
![]() Drie uur ![]() |
![]() Half drie ![]() |
![]() Half vier ![]() |
![]() Kwart voor drie ![]() |
![]() Kwart over zes ![]() |
![]() Tien voor half drie /or/ Twintig over twee ![]() |
![]() Vijf voor drie ![]() |
![]() Vijf over drie ![]() |
![]() Twee voor twaalf ![]() |
![]() twee uur dertig (2:30) ![]() |
vroeg
![]() |
'early' |
laat
![]() |
'late' |
op tijd
![]() |
'in/on time' |
te laat
![]() |
'too late, not in time' |
much more below |
't Is iets over acht
2
'It's a little (a few minutes) past eight'
Do note that in time, Dutch 'half X' means 'half an hour before X' and not 'half an hour past X' like in (British?) English.
1 één ![]() |
2 twee ![]() |
3 drie ![]() |
4 vier ![]() |
5 vijf ![]() |
6 zes ![]() |
7 zeven ![]() |
8 acht ![]() |
9 negen ![]() |
10 tien ![]() |
11 elf ![]() |
12 twaalf ![]() |
na acht uur / na achten
![]() na achten ![]() 'after 8 o'clock' |
na vijf uur / na vijven
![]() na vijven ![]() 'after 5 o'clock' |
tegen negen uur
![]() tegen negenen ![]() 'at about, just before 9 o'clock' |
na twaalven
![]() 'after 12, after noon or midnight' |
|
|
Dutch says
'hoe laat?'
for 'what time?'
Hoe laat is het?
![]() |
What time is it? |
Weet jij hoe laat 't is?
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Do you know what time it is? Do you have the time? |
Hoe laat gaat de volgende trein?
![]() |
What time [goes] is the next train? |
Kun je me zeggen hoe laat 't begint?
![]() |
Could you (please) tell me what time it [starts] will start? |
Hoe laat moet je opstaan?
![]() |
'What time do you need to get up?' |
Hoe laat zal ik je wakker maken?
![]() |
'What time shall I wake you up?' |
Hoe laat moet ik je wakker maken?
![]() |
'What time should I wake you up?' |
(De) Zomertijd
('Daylight Saving Time' - after the clock is set back an hour in
early Spring so evenings will stay light longer)
Denk eraan dat de zomertijd dit weekend ingaat
Keep in mind that the daylight saving time
starts this weekend
Like English,
Dutch uses a variety of prepositions when specifying the
time, day or year.
To indicate the 'time' and 'hours'
of an event or a condition,
where English uses 'at,' Dutch uses
the preposition 'om'
Om acht uur
![]() |
At 8 (o'clock) |
Om acht uur precies
![]() |
At 8 o'clock sharp |
Om ongeveer vier uur
![]() |
At about 4 (o'clock) |
We komen om vier uur aan
![]() |
We'll arrive at 4 |
Ik ga om acht uur weg
![]() |
I'm [going away] leaving at 8 |
Ik moet om acht uur weg
![]() |
I have to leave at 8 |
We gaan om zes uur weg
![]() |
We'll leave at 6 |
't Is om zes uur
![]() |
It is at 6 (event etc.) |
't Is vlak voor drie
![]() |
It's just before 3, It's almost 3 |
't Begint om negen uur
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It starts at 9 |
Ik heb een afspraak om acht uur
![]() |
I have an 8 o'clock appointment |
Ik werd om vier uur wakker
![]() |
I woke up at 4 |
Ik ben om zes uur opgestaan
![]() |
I got up at 6 |
Ik probeer om tien uur in bed te liggen
![]() |
I try to be in bed by 10 |
Ik ga meestal om half elf naar bed
![]() |
I usually go to bed at 10:30 |
Om elf uur viel ik in slaap
![]() |
I fell asleep at 11 |
Kun je me om zeven uur wakker maken?
![]() |
Could you (please) wake me up at 7? |
De volgende trein gaat om half twaalf
![]() |
The next train [goes, leaves] is at 11:30 |
De laatste trein gaat om tien over twaalf
![]() |
The last train is at 10 past 12 |
't Was alsof de zon om middernacht opkwam
![]() |
It was as if the sun came up at midnight |
Ik moet om acht uur op m'n werk zijn
![]() |
I have to be at work (at the place where I work, 'on the job') at 8 |
ter elfder ure
![]() |
at the 11th hour, rather late (old-fashioned) |
Morgen om deze tijd is 't allemaal voorbij
![]() |
Tomorrow at this [time] hour it's all over, past |
Ik zette de wekker op zes uur
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I set the alarm clock for six o'clock |
The correct use of
prepositions is one of the great problems of learning a
foreign language.
Click the arrows for more detailed explanations further below.
Numbers do not get an -E ending like
adjectives
- numbers are not adjectives.
'n fractie van 'n seconde
![]() |
'a fraction of a second' - a split second, a very short time |
vijf minuten
![]() |
5 minutes |
rond vier uur
![]() |
at about 4 o'clock |
meer dan drie uur
![]() |
more than 3 hours |
binnen een uur
![]() |
within an hour ->> |
over twee uur
![]() |
in 2 hours ->> |
De volgende bus gaat over een halfuur
![]() |
The next bus is in half an hour |
Ik ben over een uur weer thuis
![]() |
I'll be back home in an hour |
Eten over een paar minuten
![]() |
[Food] Dinner (or lunch) in a few minutes |
Ik hoop met een uurtje terug te
zijn
![]() |
I hope to be back [in a little hour] within an hour |
vier uur per dag
![]() |
4 hours a day >> |
tien minuten per uur
![]() |
10 minutes each hour |
dertig kilometer per uur
![]() |
30 kilometers an hour |
twee uur werk
![]() |
two hours' work, 2 hours of work |
't Is hoogstens een uur werk
![]() |
It's at most one hour of work |
't Is twee uur rijden
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It's a two-hour drive |
't Duurde maar tien minuten
![]() |
It only lasted ten minutes |
't Duurt zeker nog een uur
![]() |
It's definitely still going to take an hour |
't Kostte maar vijf minuten
![]() |
It only took five minutes |
Ik zat een uur bij de tandarts
![]() |
I [sat] was at the dentist for an hour - for |
Ik heb een uur in de tuin gewerkt
![]() |
I worked in the yard for an hour |
Ik heb een uur gelopen
![]() |
I walked for an hour |
Kook de aardappels zeventien minuten
![]() |
Boil the potatoes for 17 minutes |
Laat 't twintig minuten koken
![]() |
[Let it ...] Boil for 20 minutes |
Hij liet ons een uur wachten
![]() |
He [let] made us wait for an hour |
(de) dag
![]() dagen ![]() (The times of sunup and sundown vary over the year) |
zons- opgang ![]() ![]() |
overdag
![]() 'in the daytime' |
zons- ondergang ![]() ![]() |
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![]()
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![]()
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![]()
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(de) nacht![]() |
(de) morgen![]() |
| | (de) middag![]() |
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's nachts![]() at night |
's morgens![]() in the morning |
| | 's middags![]() in the afternoon |
|
For 'morning' there is also the somewhat difficult alternative
(de) ochtend
![]() ![]() ![]() Do note that Dutch still says avond ![]() ![]() 'Tonight we're going to [see a movie at] the cinema'
Also note the " 's Xs " figure above in for instance
's nachts
Morgen
![]() ![]() |
eergisteren
![]() the day before yesterday |
gisteren
![]() yesterday |
vandaag
![]() today |
morgen
![]() tomorrow |
overmorgen
![]() the day after tomorrow |
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|
Tot vanmiddag |
![]() |
See you this afternoon |
Tot vanavond |
![]() |
See you tonight |
Tot morgen |
![]() |
See you tomorrow |
Tot maandag |
![]() |
See you on Monday |
Prettig weekend |
![]() |
Have a nice weekend |
De morgen van de laatste dag
![]() |
The morning of the last day |
's morgens vroeg
![]() |
early in the morning |
Vanmorgen scheen de zon
![]() |
This morning, the sun was shining |
's Avonds ging de zon onder
![]() |
In the evening, the sun went down |
's avonds laat
![]() |
late in the evening, late at night |
(de) levensavond
![]() |
'life's evening' - old age |
(het) avonduur
![]() |
evening hour, hour of the evening |
Hij heeft de hele middag zitten typen
![]() |
'He's been typing all afternoon' - see also: a Dutch continuous |
tussen de middag
![]() |
during the lunch break, say 12-1PM |
'Tussen de middag'
means 'during the lunch break,'
say 12-1PM or a little later, between morning and
afternoon work or school - but it is a bit strange when you think of it,
literally it is 'between the afternoon.' Maybe 'and morning' was dropped
somewhere along the way.
'Vannacht'
can mean either 'last night' or 'tonight'
- look at the tense of the verb:
Ik kon vannacht niet slapen
![]() |
Last night I couldn't sleep |
't Gaat vannacht regenen
![]() |
It's going to rain tonight |
Vannacht regende het.
![]() |
Last night it rained |
Vannacht heeft 't geregend.
![]() |
Last night it rained |
't Heeft vannacht geregend.
![]() | Last night it rained |
dag en nacht
![]() |
day and night, all the time |
(de) nachtdienst
![]() |
nightshift (time) |
de nachtploeg
![]() |
the nightshift crew |
(de) nachtwaker
![]() |
night watchman |
de Nachtwacht
![]() |
the Night Watch Rembrandt |
(de) nachtvlinder
![]() |
[butterfly of the night] large moth |
(de) nachtegaal
![]() |
nightingale |
slapeloze nachten
![]() |
sleepless nights |
's Nachts is het donker
![]() |
At night it is dark |
Ik wil er nog een nachtje over slapen
![]() |
I'd like to sleep [a night] on it, take a decision tomorrow |
Ik heb de hele nacht wakker gelegen
![]() |
I was lying awake all night |
Ik werd midden in de nacht wakker
![]() |
I woke up in the middle of the night |
Niet over één nacht ijs gaan
![]() |
(saying) ['Not going over one night's ice'] Proceed with great caution |
Als de dagen lengen, gaan de nachten strengen
'When the days get longer, the nights get more severe'
(i.e. colder)
Nog twee nachtjes slapen
2
3
['Still two nights of sleep' ("sleeps?")]
- said to children, to give the time span till an
important event like a birthday or
Sinterklaas
So 'dag' like English 'day'
can be the 24-hour period from one midnight to the
next midnight, but sometimes it's used in the more narrow sense of
'daylight time.' An old-fashioned but precise word for the 24-hour 'day' is
(het) etmaal
2
voor dag en dauw
![]() |
['before day and dew'] - very early, still dark, still at night |
De dag breekt aan
![]() |
'The day begins' '~at daybreak, at first light' |
(de) dageraad
![]() |
daybreak, dawn, first light |
Bij 't krieken van de dag
![]() |
'at daybreak, at first light' |
in de loop van de dag
![]() |
'in the course of the day' |
Ik heb de hele dag gelopen
![]() |
I've been walking all day |
Zij sleten hun dagen met sigaren
![]() |
They spent their days [with] smoking cigars |
verloren dagen
![]() |
'lost,' wasted days |
Sommige dagen gaat alles mis
![]() |
On some days everything goes wrong |
Sommige dagen gaat er van alles mis
![]() |
On some days all kinds of things go wrong |
Ik eet elke dag een sinaasappel
![]() |
I [eat] have an orange every day |
Ik sta elke dag vroeg op
![]() |
I get up early every day |
De Zesdaagse Oorlog
![]() |
The 6-Day War (1967) - military |
De Tiendaagse Veldtocht
![]() |
The Ten-Day (Military) Campaign (1831, against Belgian independence) |
een gewone dag
![]() |
a regular, ordinary day |
Een dag als alle andere
![]() |
[a day like all others] - Just another day |
alledaagse dingen
![]() |
everyday things |
de jongste dag
![]() |
the ["youngest"] last day, doomsday - the day of: |
het laatste oordeel
![]() |
the [last] final judgement - religion |
de dagen zat
![]() |
[having had your fill of days] - tired of the days (i.e. life) |
Oud en de dagen zat
![]() |
Old and tired of life |
Een prettige dag nog!
![]() |
Have a nice day! |
een gezellige dag gewenst
![]() |
Wishing you a pleasant day (in the company of family and friends)' |
van de ene dag op de andere
![]() |
from one day to the [other] next - suddenly, unexpectedly |
|
|
onder 't eten
![]() |
during dinner (or lunch, breakfast) |
Bij 't ontbijt drink ik thee
![]() |
At breakfast I drink tea |
Bij de lunch drink ik melk
![]() |
At lunch I drink milk |
Bij 't avondeten drink ik wijn
![]() |
At dinner I drink wine |
See and hear also: Breakfast and Lunch - Drinks - Snacks and Dinner
eergisteren
![]() the day before yesterday |
gisteren
![]() yesterday |
vandaag
![]() today |
morgen
![]() tomorrow |
overmorgen
![]() the day after tomorrow |
Heeft 't gisteren geregend?
![]() |
Did it rain yesterday? |
't Heeft gisteren geregend
![]() |
It did rain yesterday |
Heeft 't gisteren hard geregend?
![]() |
Did it rain hard yesterday? |
't Regende gisteren hard
![]() |
It was raining hard yesterday |
't Heeft gisteren hard geregend
![]() |
It was raining hard yesterday (in Dutch, there's not much difference between the simple past and the perfect present tenses) |
Gisteren was het erg slecht weer
![]() |
Yesterday [it was] we had very bad weather ->> |
Ik was gisteren bij de tandarts
![]() |
Yesterday I was at the dentist's |
Gisteren heb ik gezwommen
![]() |
I went swimming yesterday |
Ik heb gisteren thuis gegeten
![]() |
I [ate] had dinner and/or lunch at home yesterday |
Ik had je gisteren willen waarschuwen
![]() |
I had wanted to warn you yesterday |
De verpleegster gaf hem gisteren thuis een injectie
![]() |
The nurse gave him a shot at home yesterday |
vandaag de dag
![]() |
["today the day"] - nowadays ->> |
vandaag of morgen
![]() |
[today or tomorrow] soon |
... maar vandaag voel ik me weer een stuk beter
![]() |
... but today I feel a lot better [again] |
Vandaag eten we vis
![]() |
Today [we'll eat] we're having fish |
Ik zag vandaag een politieauto bij de school
![]() |
I saw a policecar at the school today |
Ik ben vandaag niet buiten geweest
![]() |
I've not been outside today |
Ik heb vandaag geen hoofdpijn
![]() |
I don't have a headache today |
Vandaag moet ik een boom omzagen in Heelsum
![]() |
Today I have to cut down a tree in Heelsum |
Met het oog op morgen
![]() |
[with an eye to] taking tomorrow into consideration |
Morgen wil ik gaan hardlopen
![]() |
Tomorrow I want to go running |
Morgen ga ik witlof maken
![]() |
Tomorrow I'll be preparing Belgian endives |
Ik ga morgen naar de kapper
![]() |
Tomorrow I'll [go to the barber] get a haircut |
We gaan morgen voetballen
![]() |
We're going to play soccer tomorrow |
We zijn van plan om morgen weg te gaan
![]() |
[We're planning] The plan is to leave tomorrow |
Als morgen de hemel valt hebben we allemaal een blauwe muts ![]() |
If the sky falls tomorrow,
we'll all have a blue cap |
De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond
![]() |
[The morning hour has gold in its mouth] - The early bird gets the worm ->> |
Gaat 't morgen regenen?
![]() |
Is it going to rain tomorrow? |
Het gaat morgen regenen
![]() |
It's going to rain tomorrow |
Het is morgen klaar
![]() |
It will be ready tomorrow |
Ik denk dat het morgen klaar is
![]() |
I think it will be ready tomorrow |
Hij zegt dat het morgen klaar is
![]() |
He says it will be ready tomorrow |
Laten we tot morgen wachten
![]() |
Let's wait till tomorrow |
Morgen gaan we lijnen
![]() |
Tomorrow we'll start dieting |
Morgen gaat hij naar Den Haag
![]() |
Tomorrow he's going to The Hague |
Morgen zal 't wel beter zijn
![]() |
Tomorrow it will be better |
Morgen is er weer een dag
![]() |
Tomorrow there'll be a new day |
Eergisteren
schopte ik in Waddinxveen veel te hard
![]() |
The day before yesterday in Waddinxveen I kicked way too hard (soccer) |
Ik ga overmorgen
in Barneveld een schuur bouwen
![]() |
The day after tomorrow I'm going to build a large shed in Barneveld |
Ik ga overmorgen een schuur bouwen in Barneveld
![]() |
The day after tomorrow I'm going to build a large shed in Barneveld |
We gaan overmorgen op reis
![]() |
We're travelling the day after tomorrow |
Alsof er geen toekomst is
![]() |
As if there is no future, no tomorrow |
Zonder aan de toekomst te denken
![]() |
Without thinking of the future, 'As if there is no tomorrow' |
![]() de zon ![]() |
![]() de maan ![]() |
De Dagen van de Week
![]() |
The Days of the Week | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
maandag
![]() Monday |
dinsdag
![]() Tuesday |
woensdag
![]() Wednesday |
donderdag
![]() Thursday |
vrijdag
![]() Friday |
zaterdag
![]() Saturday |
zondag
![]() Sunday |
In English and Dutch, some of the days of the week are named after the
old Germanic gods, like Wednesday for chief god Odin/Wotan
(Dutch: Wodan
) - Thursday for
god of thunder Thor (Donar
2)
and Friday for Frigga (Dutch:
Freya
2)
- Mrs Wotan.
(de) week
2
('week') /
weken
2
('weeks') -
wekelijks
2
('weekly')
Like English,
Dutch uses a variety of prepositions when specifying the
time, day or year.
Mentioning weekdays or dates, placing an event or a condition
on a weekday or a date,
Dutch often uses the
preposition
'op'
For something that takes place regularly on a certain weekday,
Dutchmen may drop 'op' and give the name of the day
an S-ending instead. (English has an -S ending too for this meaning.
You could think it's just
the plural - but Dutch 'dag' has an -EN plural:
dag/dagen
) -
It looks a bit similar to
's winters
('in Winter') and
's zomers
('in Summer') below
and 's morgens
('in the morning') and
's middags
('in the afternoon')
above.
Only maandag
(Monday) and woensdag
(Wednesday) commonly start with apostrophe-S in this use,
zaterdag
(Saturday) and
zondag
(Sunday) could, but it's unusual, and for the other days it would be
an unpleasant break in the flow of sounds: S-D, S-V, and it's not a
syllable break.
Speaking about a one-time event on a day of the week, 'op'
may be dropped.
op zondag gesloten
![]() |
Closed on Sundays |
Op zondag gaan we naar de kerk
![]() |
Sundays we go to church |
Alleen op zondag
![]() |
Only on Sundays |
's Woensdags eten we vaak linzen
![]() |
On Wednesdays we often [eat] have lentils |
Vrijdags eten we vaak vis
![]() |
On Fridays we often [eat] have fish |
op een blauwe maandag
![]() |
(saying) ['On a Blue Monday'] - 'for a short, insignificant time in the past' |
op een goeie (goede) dag
![]() |
1. on a good day (good results, feeling good
etc.) 2. someday, on a random day |
We gaan donderdag op vakantie
![]() |
We'll [go on] leave for vacation on Thursday |
Donderdag gaan we op vakantie
![]() |
Thursday we'll go on vacation |
maandag wasdag
![]() |
Monday laundry day ->> |
afgelopen woensdag
![]() |
last Wednesday |
in de afgelopen dagen
![]() |
in the past few days |
vorige week dinsdag
![]() |
last week Tuesday |
aanstaande vrijdag
![]() |
this coming Friday |
volgende week maandag
![]() |
next week Monday |
één dezer dagen
![]() |
one of these days, soon |
Er komt een dag ...
![]() |
There'll [come] be a day ... |
dagelijks
![]() |
daily, every day |
om de dag
![]() |
every other day >> |
twee dagen achter elkaar
![]() |
Two days [after each other] in a row |
laatst
![]() |
some time ago, 'the other day' ->> |
|
|
Vorige week hebben we ... gezien
![]() |
Last week we've seen ... (a movie) |
Vorige week vrijdag was er een concert van ...
![]() |
Last week Friday there was a concert by ... |
Volgende week gaat 't regenen
![]() |
Next week it's going to rain |
't Blijft de hele week regenen
![]() |
It's going to rain all week |
Volgende week ga ik Elly in Edam bloemen geven
![]() |
Next week I'll give flowers to Elly in Edam |
Die week moet ik werken
![]() |
That week I'll have to work |
Hij heeft de hele week lopen klagen
![]() |
He's been complaining all week |
't Kost minstens twee weken
![]() |
It will take at least two weeks |
In Holland, the second days of the main religious festivals are also
holidays, most shops and businesses are closed.
Tweede Kerstdag
2
Tweede Paasdag
2
Tweede Pinksterdag
2
Oudejaarsavond
2
[old year's evening] - new year's eve night.
Nieuwjaarsdag
2
New Year's Day
Oud en Nieuw
2
('New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the New Year Holiday')
Prettige Kerstdagen!
![]() |
Merry Christmas! - >> |
Prettige Kerstdagen en
een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
![]() |
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! |
Vrolijk Kerstfeest!
![]() |
Merry Christmas! |
Zalig Kerstfeest!
![]() |
Blessed Christmas! (said by Roman Catholics) |
Zalig Uiteinde!
![]() |
Happy Year's End! (jocular and among Catholics) |
Prettige Jaarwisseling!
![]() |
[Happy Year's Change] Happy New Year's Eve and New Year's Day |
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
![]() |
Happy New Year! - >> |
Prettige Paasdagen!
![]() |
Happy Easter! |
Vrolijk Pasen!
![]() |
Happy Easter |
Zalig Pasen!
![]() |
Blessed Easter! (said by Roman Catholics) |
Prettige Feestdagen!
![]() | Happy Holidays! |
Ik kijk uit naar de kerstdagen
![]() |
I'm looking forward to the Christmas [days] holiday |
Ik kijk uit naar de feestdagen
![]() |
I'm looking forward to the holidays |
Carnaval
2
'Carnival' - the festivities just before the 'fasting' of Lent
Aswoensdag
2
'Ash Wednesday'
De Vasten
2
3
['Fasting'] 'Lent' - the 40 days before Easter: moderate consumption
Witte Donderdag
2
White Thursday, the day of the last supper
Goede Vrijdag
Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross
Hemelvaartsdag
2
3
Ascension Day, when Jesus went up to heaven, 40 days after
Easter
Maria Hemelvaart
2
Mary's Ascension Day
5 Mei
(May 5th) -
Bevrijdingsdag
Liberation Day -
when the German army surrendered at the end of the Second
World War, 1945.
May 4th, evening:
Dodenherdenking
commemorating those who died in the Second World War.
Koningsdag
2
April 27, the king's (birth)day. It used to be
Koninginnedag
2
"The Queen's Day" (April 30th) - actually the previous
queen Juliana's birthday, but the last queen Beatrix's birthday
is in Winter, less suitable for open-air festivities.
In the 2013
troonswisseling
('change of throne') Queen Beatrix was succeeded by her son
Willem-Alexander
Prinsjesdag
2 [little
princes' day] - the third Tuesday in September, when the King or
Queen ceremoniously presents the government's budget for the next year.
Sinterklaas
2 - December 5th,
when the Dutch Santa Claus gives out presents -
>>
(De) verjaardag
birthday -
"Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!"
Happy birthday (informal)
>>
(de) trouwdag
2
'wedding day'
- also: 'wedding anniversary'
>>
moederdag
'Mother's day' -
vaderdag
2
'Father's day'
(De) verjaardag
- the yearly 'birthday.'
Literally translated, 'birthday' is 'geboortedag' - a very
unusual word in Dutch, only used for that one day in the past that a
person came into this world, and
only in a sense like in 'Born on the 4th of July.' 'Date of birth'
(bureaucratic use, including year)
is (de) geboortedatum
2
->>
With 'wedding day' it's the other way 'round between Dutch and
English: '(de) trouwdag'
2 is both
'wedding day,' the day of the vows and what English calls 'the Anniversary,'
the yearly return of that date.
Referring to activities on the traditional holidays or maybe festive
days in general,
Dutch often uses 'met'
- but not to indicate a specific day.
Met Oud en Nieuw
![]() |
On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
|
Wat doe je met Pasen?
![]() |
What are you going to do over the Easter Holiday? |
Met Kerstmis gingen we naar de nachtmis
![]() |
At Christmas we went to the midnight mass |
We gingen naar de nachtmis met Kerstmis
![]() |
We went to midnight mass at Christmas |
We gingen met Kerstmis naar de nachtmis
![]() |
We went to midnight mass at Christmas |
Met m'n verjaardag blijf ik thuis
![]() |
I'm staying home on my birthday |
BUT: Ze is op Kerstdag geboren
![]() |
She was born on Christmas Day |
![]() Leer ons alzo onze dagen tellen ![]() So teach us to number our days (Ps 90:12) Tapestry by Elizabeth Sipma-Veenstra |
(het) seizoen
('season')
A slightly old-fashioned word for 'season' is
(het) jaargetijde
'De Vier Jaargetijden'
2
3
'The Four Seasons' (Vivaldi's masterpiece)
You may come across the somewhat formal:
(het) voorjaar
2
('Spring')
(het) najaar
2
('Fall, Autumn') and
(de) nazomer
2
('the last weeks of Summer.')
1 één ![]() |
2 twee ![]() |
3 drie ![]() |
4 vier ![]() |
5 vijf ![]() |
6 zes ![]() |
7 zeven ![]() |
8 acht ![]() |
9 negen ![]() |
10 tien ![]() |
11 elf ![]() |
12 twaalf ![]() |
13 dertien ![]() |
14 veertien ![]() |
15 vijftien ![]() |
16 zestien ![]() |
17 zeventien ![]() |
18 achttien ![]() |
19 negentien ![]() |
20 twintig ![]() |
21 éénentwintig ![]() |
22 tweeëntwintig ![]() |
23 drieëntwintig ![]() |
24 vierentwintig ![]() |
25 vijfentwintig ![]() |
26 zesentwintig ![]() |
27 zevenentwintig ![]() |
28 achtentwintig ![]() |
29 negenentwintig ![]() |
30 dertig ![]() |
31 éénendertig ![]() |
more numbers |
1 april 1572
![]() |
April 1st, 1572 |
Hij is op 2 maart jarig
![]() |
His birthday is March 2nd |
Hij is 2 maart jarig
![]() |
His birthday is March 2nd - I have a slight preference for the line with 'op' but it's not wrong to leave it out |
In augustus 1914
![]() |
In august 1914 |
Het was vorige maand erg koud
![]() |
It was very cold last month, Last month was very cold |
Als de R in de maand zit
![]() |
When there's an R in [the name of] the month'
- the time for the daily spoonful of
levertraan
![]() |
't Is alweer de eerste van de nieuwe maand
![]() |
It's already (again) the first of the new month |
De winter was lang
![]() |
The winter was long |
De winter komt eraan
![]() |
Winter is coming |
Als de lente komt, dan stuur ik jou tulpen uit Amsterdam
![]() |
Come Spring I'll send you tulips from Amsterdam |
The 'date'
as 'day of the month,' for instance 'May 5th'
(5 mei
)
is (de) datum
2 in Dutch.
A medical, business or bureaucratic 'appointment' is
(de) afspraak
- a romantic 'date' is (het) afspraakje
2
Ik heb een afspraak om acht uur
2
3
I have an 8 o'clock appointment
2021 tweeduizend- éénentwintig ![]() |
2022 tweeduizend- tweeëntwintig ![]() |
2023 tweeduizend- drieëntwintig ![]() |
2024 tweeduizend- vierentwintig ![]() |
2025 tweeduizend- vijfentwintig ![]() |
|
vorig jaar![]() last year |
dit jaar![]() this year |
volgend jaar![]() next year |
more years
previous and next New Year's Eve |
|
het verleden![]() the past >> |
het heden![]() the present >> |
de toekomst![]() the future >> |
|
|
toen![]() then >> |
nu
![]() nou ![]() now >> |
dan![]() then >> |
|
|
|
|
anderhalf jaar
![]() |
a year and a half, 18 months |
tientallen jaren
![]() |
[decades] dozens of years |
(de) eeuw
![]() |
'century' |
de zeventiende eeuw
![]() |
'the 17th Century' |
De Gouden Eeuw
![]() |
'The Golden Century' - Holland's glorious 17th century |
Like in English,
events or conditions are usually
placed in months and years with
'in'
in augustus 1914 (negentienveertien)
![]() |
in August 1914 |
in 1568 (vijftienachtenzestig)
![]() |
in 1568 |
in 1648 (zestienachtenveertig)
![]() |
in 1648 |
BUT: Op 14 mei 1948
![]() |
On May 14th, 1948 |
De Tachtigjarige Oorlog
![]() |
The 80-Years War (The Dutch Revolt: 1568-1648) |
Het Twaalfjarig Bestand
![]() |
The 12-Year Truce (1609-1621) |
drie jaar geleden
![]() |
Three (3) years ago |
'n paar jaar later
![]() |
a few years later |
over een paar jaar
![]() |
in a [couple of] few years |
later dat jaar
![]() |
later that year |
de jaren zestig
![]() |
the sixties (1960s) |
door de jaren heen
![]() |
through the years |
In 1813 werd Nederland een koninkrijk
![]() |
In 1813 Holland became a kingdom |
Nederland werd een koninkrijk in 1813
![]() |
Holland became a kingdom in 1813 |
In 1568 begon De Tachtigjarige Oorlog
![]() |
In 1568 the 80-Years War started |
De Tachtigjarige Oorlog begon in 1568
![]() |
The 80-Years War started in 1568 |
Een dag als alle andere in 1692
(zestientweeënnegentig)
![]() |
Just another day in 1692. |
Vorig jaar zijn we in Duitsland op vakantie geweest
![]() |
Last year we were on vacation in Germany. |
Volgend jaar gaan we naar Engeland
![]() |
Next year we'll go to England. |
Dit jaar gaan we naar Frankrijk
![]() |
This year we'll go to France. |
Goede voornemens voor het nieuwe jaar
![]() |
[Good intentions for the new year] - New Year's Resolutions ->> |
in het nieuwe jaar
![]() |
in the new year |
We hebben een goed jaar gehad
![]() |
We've had a good year (weather, health, income, wine) |
Dat jaar was heel mooi
![]() |
That was a very good year ('mooi'
![]() |
Er was niet veel sneeuw dit jaar
![]() |
There wasn't much snow this year |
Nog vele jaren!
![]() |
[Still many years!] Many happy returns! - Birthday |
Ik heb een paar jaar pianoles gehad
![]() |
I've had a few years of piano lessons, I've had piano lessons for a few years |
Ze zijn al twintig jaar samen
![]() |
They've (already) been together for 20 years (a relationship) |
Ze werken al twintig jaar samen
![]() |
They've (already) been working together for 20 years |
twee jaar van m'n leven
![]() |
Two (2) years of my life |
Ik heb hem in geen jaren gezien
![]() |
[I have seen him in no years] I haven't seen him in years |
in de loop van de dag
![]() |
in the course of the day |
in een ver verleden
![]() |
in a distant past |
in m'n jonge jaren
![]() |
in my [young] younger years |
in de toekomst
![]() |
in the future |
een blik in de toekomst
![]() |
a [look into] view of the future |
in het begin
![]() |
in the beginning, at the start |
in het weekend
![]() |
in the weekend |
in de afgelopen dagen
![]() |
in the past days |
met het oog op morgen
![]() |
with an eye on tomorrow, taking tomorrow into consideration |
in mijn tijd ...
![]() |
In my time, in my day (when I was in my prime) |
in die tijd
![]() |
at that time |
In die tijd hadden we allemaal lang haar
![]() |
At that time all of us had long hair >> |
't Was een andere tijd
![]() |
It was a different time, things were different then |
Er waren in die tijd geen violen
![]() |
At that time there were no violins |
in eerste instantie
![]() |
'at first view, initially' |
op den duur
![]() |
in the long run |
op mijn leeftijd
![]() |
at my age |
op het nippertje
![]() |
barely in time, in the nick of time |
op het laatste moment
![]() |
at the last moment |
later op die dag
![]() |
later that day |
later op de dag
![]() |
later in the day |
Op den duur wordt 't makkelijker
![]() |
['in the long run'] 'after a while it will be easier' |
voor 't eten
![]() |
['before eating'] - before lunch/dinner |
onder 't eten
![]() |
during dinner (or lunch, breakfast) |
na 't eten
![]() |
'after we had eaten' - after lunch/dinner |
Bij 't ontbijt drink ik thee
![]() |
At breakfast I drink tea |
Bij de lunch drink ik melk
![]() |
At lunch I drink milk |
Bij 't avondeten drink ik wijn
![]() |
At dinner I drink wine |
op 't punt
![]() |
at this point in time, 'about' |
Ik stond op 't punt om weg
te gaan
![]() |
I was about to leave |
|
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| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
English 'within' time is 'binnen'
2 which is also the
regular Dutch word for 'inside.'
over twee uur
![]() |
in 2 hours |
over een paar jaar
![]() |
in a [couple of] few years |
Ik ben over een uur weer thuis
![]() |
I'll be back home in an hour |
"Eten over een paar minuten"
![]() |
[Eating] Dinner (or lunch) in a few minutes |
De volgende bus gaat over een halfuur
![]() |
The next bus is in half an hour |
| |
binenkort
![]() |
['within short'] soon |
binnen een uur
![]() |
within an hour |
Ik hoop met een uurtje terug te
zijn
![]() |
I hope to be back [in a little hour] within an hour |
Kom je binnen of wil je buiten blijven?
![]() |
Are you coming in(side) or do you want to stay out(side)? |
![]() |
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
om
![]() |
at |
om acht uur
![]() |
at eight o'clock |
voor acht uur
![]() |
before eight |
na acht uur
![]() |
after eight |
om acht uur precies
![]() |
at eight sharp |
op tijd
![]() |
on time, in time |
precies op tijd
![]() |
exactly on time |
te laat
![]() |
too late >> |
The Clock: Telling Time |
Het begint vòòr acht uur
![]() |
It starts before 8 o'clock |
De uren vòòr twaalf
tellen dubbel
![]() |
The hours before 12 count as double (better sleep) |
De donkere dagen voor Kerstmis
![]() |
The dark days before Christmas |
De stilte voor de storm
![]() |
The quiet before the storm (literally and figuratively) |
Na regen komt zonneschijn
![]() |
After rain the sun will come out ('bad things won't last') |
Na mij de zondvloed
![]() |
After me the deluge ('Après moi le déluge' - Louis XIV) |
Als mosterd na de maaltijd
![]() |
'Like mustard after a meal' - something that comes in too late and is now useless |
't Nederland van na de oorlog
![]() |
(The The Netherlands of after the war) postwar Holland - more about 'after'. |
'Voor
2
and 'na'
are used with just a noun or a short phrase - when there is a
subsentence with a subject and a noun, Dutchmen usually say
voordat
2
3 or
nadat
2
3
- though it's not always wrong just to say 'voor'
or 'na.'
kort voor de voorstelling
![]() |
shortly before the performance |
Kort voordat de voorstelling begon
![]() |
Shortly before the performance started |
Net voordat de voorstelling begon
![]() |
Just before the performance started |
Net voordat 't begon te regenen
![]() |
Just before it [started to rain] rained |
lang na de oorlog
![]() |
long after the war |
Lang nadat de oorlog was afgelopen
![]() |
Long after the war had ended |
Lang nadat we verhuisd waren
![]() |
Long after we had moved |
Kijk even achterom voordat je afslaat
![]() |
Look backward for a moment before [that] you make a turn (in traffic) |
Voordat 't te laat is
![]() |
Before [that] it's too late |
Voordat ik 't vergeet
![]() |
Before [that] I forget [it] |
Voordat 't koud wordt
![]() |
Before it gets cold |
Tijdens 'during' examples of usage below
'Voor'
2
'before' can also mean 'before' - place: 'in front of,'
like in:
voor 't huis
in front of the house
‑>>
![]() Vijf voor drie ![]() |
![]() Vijf over drie ![]() |
On the clock, 'voor'
2 is 'to' and
'over'
2 is 'past, after'
- telling time
(above)
't Is al over elven
2
('It's already past 11')
In other time contexts, 'over' is often translated as 'in'
over twee uur
![]() |
in 2 hours |
"Eten over een paar minuten"
![]() |
Food (dinner, lunch) will be served in a few minutes (preliminary call) |
Ik ben over een uur weer thuis
![]() |
I'll be back home in an hour |
Dutch 'over'
2
can mean several other
things, like 'across' and 'about,' and 'over' is used in
a large number of
compound words.
English 'over' also doesn't have a straight Dutch translation.
See also: Disambiguation: 'Over'
Een brug over de gracht
![]() |
A bridge across the canal |
Het boek gaat over dolfijnen
![]() |
The book is about dolphins |
boven 't huis
![]() |
Over (above) the house |
't Is voorbij
![]() |
It's over |
![]() |
(de) apotheek
![]() |
pharmacy |
(de) openingstijden
![]() |
['open'] business hours |
van acht tot zes
![]() |
from eight to six |
maandag tot en met zaterdag
![]() |
Monday through Saturday |
tot en met
![]() |
up to and including |
op zondag gesloten
![]() |
closed Sundays |
van acht tot vijf
![]() |
from 8 to 5 |
van negen tot vijf
![]() |
from 9 to 5 |
van negen tot zes
![]() |
from 9 to 6 |
tot nu toe
![]() |
up till now |
Laten we tot morgen wachten
![]() |
Let's wait till tomorrow |
vanaf ...
![]() |
from ..., starting ..., beginning ... |
vanaf morgen ...
![]() |
from tomorrow ..., starting tomorrow ... |
Ik heb tot m'n zevenendertigste in Nederland gewoond
2
I lived in Holland till age 37
->>
|
|
'Van'
2 is not only from a
time, but it can also mean originating
from a place. In that meaning you'll find names of Dutch people like
for instance Van Wageningen
- usually
referring to the
small towns, villages or hamlets ancestors came from
when they moved to the big cities - very
few people have names of big cities. See and hear also:
Names
and Place Names
'Van ...tot'
('from ... to') is not only used for time, but also for place:
van top tot teen
![]() |
from [top] head to toe |
van Gouda tot Schoonhoven
![]() |
[from G to S] between Gouda and Schoonhoven |
'Van' also can have the related meaning of belonging to, ownership, a connection, or the constituting material - which is usually translated in English as 'of' - for instance:
de dagen van de week
![]() |
the days of the week |
Het/'t Delft van Vermeer
![]() |
[The Delft of Vermeer] Vermeer's Delft - see also: Disambiguation: 'Van' |
voor 't eten
![]() ['before eating'] - 'before lunch/dinner' |
onder 't eten
![]() 'while we were eating' - 'during lunch/dinner' |
na 't eten
![]() 'after we had eaten' - 'after lunch/dinner' |
These phrases can also be found in
instructions for when to take medication: before a meal / with food /
after a meal
Op de nuchtere maag
2
('on an empty stomach')
'Onder'
in this 'during' meaning is only used for 'while engaging in
activities' like walking, bicycling, praying. Onder
usually means 'under, below'
‑>>
terwijl
![]() |
while |
tijdens
![]() |
during |
ondertussen
![]() |
in the meantime |
onderhand
![]() |
by now, in the meantime |
inmiddels
![]() |
by now, meanwhile (while something else was going on) |
sinds
![]() |
since, for, ever since (starting point) - NOT: 'because' |
sedert
![]() |
since - after a certain point in time |
Nero speelde viool terwijl Rome in brand stond
![]() |
Nero played the violin while Rome was burning |
(Er waren in die tijd geen violen
![]() |
There were no violins at [that] the time) |
Snijd de tomaten
terwijl je de champignons bakt
![]() |
Cut up the tomatoes while you're sautéing the mushrooms |
Als de zon schijnt terwijl 't regent
krijg je soms een regenboog
![]() |
When the sun shines while it's raining you sometimes get a rainbow |
Hij maakte het avondeten
terwijl zij piano speelde
![]() |
He [made] prepared dinner while she played the piano |
tijdens de oorlog
![]() |
during the war |
We hadden goed opgelet tijdens de
les
![]() |
We had paid close attention during the lesson |
tijdens zijn leven
![]() |
during his life, in his lifetime |
tijdens z'n leven
![]() |
during his life, in his lifetime |
Er is ondertussen veel veranderd
![]() |
Much has changed in the meantime |
Hij was inmiddels kaal geworden
![]() |
Meanwhile he had gone bald |
Er zijn inmiddels drie kinderen
![]() |
By now there are three children |
Ik heb inmiddels een rollator
![]() |
By now I do have a rollator walker |
Sinds hij bij Philips werkt ...
![]() |
(Ever since he started working at ...) Now that he works at Philips ... |
Er is sinds die tijd veel veranderd
![]() |
Much has changed since (that time) then |
altijd
![]() |
always |
meestal
![]() |
usually, most of the time |
vaak
![]() |
often |
soms
![]() |
sometimes |
De trein is meestal op tijd
![]() |
The train usually [is] runs on time |
't Is meestal bewolkt in Nederland
![]() |
Most of the time it's overcast in Holland |
Ik ga meestal om half elf naar bed
![]() |
I usually go to bed at 10:30 |
Vers brood is altijd lekker
![]() |
Fresh bread is always [tasty] good |
Hij wil altijd meer
![]() |
He always wants more, it's never enough for him |
Ze willen alijd meer
![]() |
They always want more |
Ik krijg
wel eens honger op straat,
maar ik eet altijd thuis
![]() |
Sometimes I get hungry on the street, but I always eat at home |
Er is altijd wel iets
![]() |
There's always something |
D'r is ook altijd wat
![]() |
There's always something |
Zo gaat 't altijd
![]() |
[It always goes ...] - It's always like this |
Er is voor jou altijd plaats
![]() |
There's always room, a place for you |
Hij staat altijd voor je klaar
![]() |
He's always [ready] there for you |
Hij staat altijd klaar voor je
![]() |
He's always [ready] there for you |
Er gaat altijd zoveel mis!
![]() |
So many things go wrong, all the time |
Waarom gaat altijd alles mis?
![]() |
Why does everthing always go wrong? |
Ik moet me altijd ergens aan
vasthouden
![]() |
I need to hold on to something (a fixed point) at all times |
voor eens en altijd
![]() |
for once and for all time |
Dan weet je dat voor eens en altijd
![]() |
Then you'll know (that) once and for all (you won't forget it) |
In Nederland is het vaak bewolkt
![]() |
In Holland it's often cloudy, overcast |
Ik denk vaak aan je
![]() |
I often think of you |
Ik luister nog vaak naar ...
![]() |
I still often listen to ... |
De CD ... van ... draai ik ook nog vaak
![]() |
I still often play the CD ... by ... |
Verkeer van rechts heeft vaak voorrang
![]() |
Traffic from the right often has the right of way |
Prijzen gaan niet vaak omlaag
![]() |
Prices [not often] rarely go down |
Ik heb vaak hoofdpijn
![]() |
I often have [a headache] headaches |
Ik heb je er al vaak op gewezen
![]() |
I've pointed it out to you [often] many times |
's Woensdags eten we vaak linzen
![]() |
On Wednesdays we often [eat] have lentils |
Vrijdags eten we vaak vis
![]() |
On Fridays we often [eat] have fish |
Ze heeft het vaak over jou
![]() |
She often ['has it'] talks about you |
Hij heeft 't er vaak over
![]() |
He often ['has it'] talks about it |
Hij heeft vaker met dat bijltje gehakt
![]() |
(saying) ['he has wielded that (little) axe before'] 'he has done that before, he has the experience' (usually in a somewhat unpleasant task) |
Klaas Vaak
2 is the Dutch
Sandman (an unrelated meaning of 'vaak')
'Sometimes' is the easy
'soms
- or you may find 'wel eens'
2
though depending on context that can also translated as 'ever' or it can be
just a shade of meaning like a pragmatic marker -
see and hear more examples
under
'eens'
Er is soms een tekort aan tomaten - tomatentekort
![]() |
Sometimes there is a shortage of tomatoes - tomato schortage |
Als de zon schijnt terwijl 't regent
krijg je soms een regenboog ![]() |
When the sun is shining while it's raining
you sometimes get a rainbow |
Ik koop soms dingen die ik niet nodig heb
![]() |
Sometimes I buy things I don't need |
Als gehandicapte heb ik soms hulp
nodig
![]() |
As a person with a disability I sometimes need help |
Ik loop soms met een rollator
![]() |
I sometimes [walk with] use a walker |
Kleine oorzaken hebben soms grote
gevolgen
![]() |
[Small causes sometimes have big effects] - Small things can have large results, minor causes may have major consequences |
(Ik wil graag helpen ...
![]() |
I want to help, I'm eager to help, I really like to help people ...) |
... maar soms wordt 't
niet op prijs gesteld
![]() |
... but sometimes it's not appreciated |
... maar 't wordt soms
niet op prijs gesteld
![]() |
... but sometimes it's not appreciated |
Ik vraag me wel eens af ...
![]() |
Sometimes I wonder ... more below |
af en toe
![]() |
occasionally, from time to time |
zo nu en dan
![]() |
occasionally, from time to time |
Je moet er af en toe in roeren
![]() |
You need to stir [in] it occasionally, from time to time |
Je moet er af en toe naar kijken
![]() |
You need to look at/into it occasionally, check it from time to time |
Het lijkt wel
alsof iemand (heel) ver weg af en toe op een trommel
slaat - dat zal m'n hartslag zijn
![]() |
It's like someone far in the distance
from time to time hits a drum - that's probably my heartbeat
- Slow Dutch |
steeds
![]() |
continually, all the time, every time |
steeds hetzelfde
![]() |
always the same |
't Werd steeds later
![]() |
It kept getting later |
't Wordt steeds erger
![]() |
It's getting worse and worse |
Ik zie 't steeds vaker
![]() |
I see it [ever ofterner] more and more often |
't Gaat steeds mis
![]() |
It goes wrong every time |
Ik vergeet 't steeds
![]() |
I forget it every time |
Er komt steeds wat tussen
![]() |
Every time (I'm trying to do it) something comes up |
'Steeds' may be from the same root as English 'steady' - but meaning has diverged.
When 'steeds' is combined
with Dutch 'nog'
to 'nog steeds'
2
3
it just amplifies the 'still, yet' meaning of
nog -
giving it a sense of
being unexpected like 'after all these years.' Further explained under
'nog'
below.
Ik vond het nog steeds erg goed
![]() |
I still really liked it |
Ik vind het nog steeds een fantastische film
![]() |
I still think it's a great movie |
Is dat nog steeds zo?
![]() |
Is [that] it still like that? |
Ik heb nog steeds geen rollator
![]() |
I still don't have a walker (despite my age / I should get one etc.) |
Ik ben nog steeds moe
![]() |
I'm still tired |
|
|
nu of nooit
![]() |
now or never! | |
nooit ofte nimmer!
![]() |
['never and never'] - 'absolutely never!' ('nimmer' by itself is old-fashioned) | |
beter laat dan nooit
![]() |
better late than never | |
't Is nooit genoeg
![]() |
It's never enough, there is never enough | |
Hij gaat nooit naar de kerk
![]() |
He never goes to church | |
Ik verveel me nooit
![]() |
I'm never bored | |
Dat lukt je nooit
![]() |
You'll never succeed in that, you'll never be able to do that | |
Dat lukt me nooit
![]() |
I'll never be able to do that | |
Houdt die herrie nooit op?
![]() |
Is that miserable noise never going to stop? | |
Het is er nooit van gekomen
![]() |
It never came about (I/we/he/they have/has never done that) | |
Mijn werk is nooit af
![]() |
My work is never done, never finished | |
't Is ook nooit goed
![]() |
It's never good enough (exasperated or resigned) | |
ik ben nog nooit in Rome geweest
![]() |
I've never been to Rome (yet) | |
Ik had me nog nooit zo ziek gevoeld
![]() |
I had never felt that sick before | |
Ik had me nog nooit zo beroerd gevoeld
![]() |
I had never felt that miserable (sick) before | |
Ik heb 't nooit eerder gemerkt
![]() |
I've never noticed it before | |
't Is me nooit eerder opgevallen
![]() |
I've never noticed it before | |
Je kunt nooit helemaal zeker zijn
![]() |
You can never be entirely certain, completely sure | |
Was ik er
maar nooit aan begonnen!
![]() |
I wish I had never started (on) it, gotten into it | |
Zeg nooit nooit
![]() |
Never say never | |
't Mag nooit meer gebeuren
![]() |
We cannot allow it to ever happen again - never again! | |
Ik ga nooit meer weg
![]() |
I'll never [go away] leave (again?) | |
Ik ga nooit meer terug
![]() |
I'll never [go back] return | |
Ik kom nooit meer terug
![]() |
I'll never come back | |
In the last four examples above Dutch adds 'meer'
![]() | ||
Als je ooit deze kant op komt ...
![]() |
If you ever come this way ... (an invitation to visit) | |
Ben je ooit in Memphis geweest?
![]() |
Have you ever been [in] to Memphis? | |
Heb je Kees ooit ontmoet?
![]() |
Have (did) you ever met Kees? | |
't Kan ooit nog van pas komen
![]() |
It might come in useful someday (the hoarder's problem) | |
Ooit zullen we de Zuiderzee bedwingen en het land weer droogleggen ![]() |
Someday we'll [subdue] overcome the Zuyder Zee and reclaim the land | |
Ik ben niet meer zo slim als ik ooit was
![]() |
I'm no longer as clever [as I ever was] as I was in the past, as I used to be | |
Misschien was ik nooit zo slim
![]() |
Maybe I never was that clever |
Ik kom er nooit meer
![]() |
I never [come] go there anymore |
We eten het nooit meer
![]() |
We never [eat] have it anymore |
Prijzen gaan zelden omlaag
![]() |
Prices [seldom] rarely go down |
Haastige spoed is zelden goed
![]() |
["Hasty speed is seldom good"] - 'Hurry is rarely useful' |
Het is voorgoed voorbij
![]() |
It's over for good, it's once and for all over and done with |
Hij is z'n rijbewijs voorgoed kwijt
![]() |
He lost his driver's license 'for good,' it was suspended indefinitely |
'Once' meaning
'one time' is 'één keer'
in Dutch:
één keer per dag
![]() |
'one time a day, once daily' >> 2 |
'Once'
meaning 'sometime' is the similar Dutch
eens
- like in the common opening phrase of
fairy tales:
Er was eens ...
![]() |
Once upon a time there was ... |
or:
Er was er eens ...
![]() |
Once upon a time there was ... |
D'r was eens een prinses ...
![]() |
Once upon a time there was a princess ... |
Do note that the EE of 'eens' is in most cases pronounced as
schwa, 'voiceless E'
2
and not as the 'long E'
2
you'd expect from the spelling:
eens
- when talking about the future, 'eens' is usually pronounced
with 'long E,' in a meaning like
'someday ...' - more below
'Eens'
is often combined with prepositions like:
Ik vraag me wel eens af ...
![]() |
Sometimes I wonder ... |
Ik heb wel eens gehoord dat ...
![]() |
I have heard [sometime] that ... |
Ik heb wel eens gelezen dat ...
![]() |
I have read [sometime somewhere] that ... |
Ben je wel eens in Denemarken geweest?
![]() |
Have you ever been to Denmark? |
Heb je wel eens zo-iets meegemaakt?
![]() |
Have you ever experienced? something like that? |
Ik krijg wel eens honger op straat,
maar ik eet altijd thuis ![]() |
Sometimes I get an appetite in the street, but I always eat at home |
Er gaat er wel eens een de mist in
![]() |
Occasionally something (a part of a performance) [disppears into the mist] fails |
Ik zou wel eens willen weten ...
![]() |
I really would like to know ... |
Zoals ik je misschien wel eens verteld heb
...
![]() |
As (Like?) I may have told you sometime ... |
Kunt U dat nog eens zeggen?
![]() |
Could you please say that once more, one more time, again, repeat that? |
Zou U dat nog eens willen zeggen?
![]() |
Would you mind repeating that please? |
Ik heb laatst ... nog eens gelezen
![]() |
Sometime ago I have re-read ... |
Gisteren heb ik ... weer eens gezien
![]() |
Yesterday I've seen ... again, another time (a movie) |
Dan hoor je het ook eens van een ander
![]() |
'Then you'll hear it from someone else' ~you'll get the second opinion you need |
voor eens en altijd
![]() |
for once and for all time |
Dan weet je dat voor eens en altijd
![]() |
Then you'll know (that) once and for all (you won't forget it) |
'Eens'
is pronounced with 'long E' in
dramatic statements like 'someday in the future ...' or 'there'll be a
day that ...' or (depending on context) 'one time only'
Eens zul je begrijpen ...
![]() |
Someday you'll understand ..., There'll come a day that you'll understand ... |
You could also say: Ooit zul je begrijpen ...
![]() |
Someday you'll understand ... |
't Gebeurt maar eens in je leven
![]() |
It happens just once in your lifetime |
Eens maar nooit weer
![]() |
Once, but never again (an experience not to be repeated) |
voor eens en altijd
![]() |
for once and for all time |
Dan weet je dat voor eens en altijd
![]() |
Then you'll know (that) once and for all (you won't forget it) |
'Eens' kan also be an almost
meaningless interjection that's often not translated
straightforwardly, or it can just give a shade of meaning (a
'pragmatic marker') that's
translated in different ways.
As explained in in
lesson 11,
adjectives often get an -E ending
- smartphone version
'Biologisch' is vroeg 19e (negentiende-) eeuwse landbouw
'Vroeg'
The comparative degree of
'vroeg'
The opposite of 'vroeg'
van de vroege morgen tot de late avond
'Too late,' past the right time, is
'te laat'
As mentioned in
'Telling Time,' Dutch says
'hoe laat?'
Dutch 'Weet jij hoe laat het is?'
'Laat'
'Later'
Like 'vroeger' is often used
colloquially as 'in the past,' 'later' is sometimes used as
'in the future' or 'afterwards.'
'Straks'
For 'laatste'
If
I understand it correctly, English
'on time' means 'according to schedule,' like a bus or train,
while 'in time' has a more
general meaning of 'at the right time.' In Dutch, both are
'op tijd'
'Eerder'
"Just a moment" is
'momentje'
Dutch 'even ... als'
Dutch 'even'
English 'even' referring to extreme
or unexpected situations is 'zelfs'
But 'zo' has many other uses
in Dutch. Sometimes it means 'very' like English 'so' - "a high
degree of"
'Zo' also has the related
meaning 'such' - usually found as zo'n
'Zo'
by itself can also mean something like 'that way' and
something similar is also found in a word
like
zoals
Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens
See and hear more 'zo' examples: Disambiguation: 'Zo'
In a time context, English 'just'
can also mean 'barely, with little margin' or
'only a moment ago, a short time ago in the past.' Both of these
meanings can be translated in Dutch as
net
Speaking of the past,
the Dutch word for 'then' is 'toen'
Speaking of the future,
the Dutch word for 'then' is 'dan'
'Eens'
is also found in the expression:
het eens zijn (met)
2
3
which means 'to agree, ~to be on one page with.' See
also: Disambiguation: 'Eens'
Early, Late - and In Time
'vroeg'
(vroege
)
early 'laat'
(late
)
(laat/late
2)
late, not in time
'op tijd'
2
3
- Dutch has just one phrase for 'in time' and 'on time'
English 'the late' meaning 'deceased,' a
person passed away, is
'wijlen'
vroege vogels
2
'early birds' - people who get up early 's morgens vroeg
2
3
early in the morning Het is nog vroeg
It's still early 't Is nog te vroeg
2
3
It's still too early 't Is nog te vroeg om op te staan
2
3
It's still to early to get up, it's too early to
get up yet Hij is vroeg
2
He is early Ik sta elke dag vroeg op
2
I get up early every day onmenselijk vroeg
2
[inhumanely] impossibly, beastly early
2
'Organic' is early 19th-Century agriculture
'Biologisch' is niks anders dan vroeg 19e eeuwse landbouw
2
'Organic' is nothing else than early 19th-Century agriculture
- 'vroeg 19e eeuwse' - here, 'vroeg' does not get
the -E ending because it is an adverb,
modifying the adjective '19e eeuwse'
is also the past tense singular of 'vragen'
2 ('to ask')
>>
Hij vroeg om water
2
He asked for water - See
Disambiguation: 'Vroeg' for more examples
('early') is 'vroeger'
('earlier, sooner')
'Vroeger'
is also often used colloquially as 'in the past, before'
- find more examples
below.
Dan moet je vroeger opstaan
2
3
'Then you'll have to get up earlier, sooner'
- i.e. you'll have to be more alert and more active
Vroeger was alles beter
'Everything was better in the past'
('early') is 'laat'
('late' - not in/on time -or- at the end of a time frame)
When used as an adjective, it often gets an -E ending:
late
- laat/late
2 - see
also: lesson 11
- or smartphone version
2
3
from the early morning till [the late night] late
at night
- note that Dutch sometimes says 'te laat'
where English just says 'late'
de vroege
2 /
de late
2
'the early' / 'the late' - referring to early or late blooming plants 's avonds laat
2
late in the evening, late at night gistermiddag laat
2
late yesterday afternoon Hij is laat
2
He is late, not in time 't Wordt laat
2
It's getting late 't Is laat geworden
2
3
4
It's gottten late Beter laat dan nooit
Better late than never Is het te laat?
Is it too late? Het is te laat
It is too late Nou is het te laat
2
Now it's too late Ik denk dat het te laat is
I think it's too late Het is eigenlijk al te laat
It's actually already too late 't Is al te laat om onder te duiken
2
It's already too late to go into hiding 't Is nog niet te laat
2
3
It's not too late (yet) Is 't al zò laat?
2
Is it already that late? Voordat 't te laat is
2
Before [that] it's too late Zij waren te laat
They were too late niet te laat opstaan
Don't get up (too) late, don't sleep in Maak 't niet te laat
2
Don't make it late
(get back home or finish the job in time) Hij komt bijvoorbeeld nooit te laat
2
He is for instance never late Als 't niet te laat is
2
If it's not too late Als 't nog niet te laat is
2
3
If it's not too late yet Als 't nog maar niet te laat is
If only it's not too late
(I hope it's not too late)
for 'what time?' See and hear more examples
above
Hoe laat is het?
2
What time is it? What's the time?
2 means
just 'Do you know what time it is?' and NOT
English 'Do you know how late it is?' which is angrily telling
someone he or she is bothering you at an inappropriate time.
is also the present tense singular of 'laten'
- a verb that's a bit hard to translate. See
Disambiguation: 'Laat' for more.
Laat 't twintig minuten koken
2
3
(Let it boil) Boil it for twenty minutes
is the comparative degree of
'laat'
('late') - like in English.
vroeger of later
['earlier or later'] 'sooner or later' een paar jaar later
a few years later later dat jaar
2
later that year later op die dag
later that day later op de dag
later in the day, usually end-of-afternoon in een later stadium
2
at a later stage 't Werd steeds later
2
3
It became later and later
- said when for instance something
is not finished in time but delayed several times
Wat wil je later worden?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
achteraf
1. afterwards, after something happened, later
2. remote, remotely locatedAchteraf begrijp ik ...
2
3
Afterwards (now) I understand ...
Achteraf heb ik er spijt van
2
Afterwards (now) I'm regretting it
Hij woont ergens achteraf
2
3
He lives [somewhere remote] in the
countryside
Also: op het platteland
2
3
in the countryside, in the country
naderhand
2
afterwards, later (after something)
2 means 'later,' in
a little while, 'soon.'
tot straks
2
See you later (in a little while) Straks is 't te laat
2
3
4
[Later] In a while it'll be too late (act now!)
2
- the superlative degree of 'laat'
see also:
First and Last, Previous and Next
and
The First Time, The Last Time
2
3
Precies op tijd
2
Exactly in/on time Op tijd naar bed
Get to bed in time (a
- resolution,
suggestion or command) Ben je op tijd thuis?
2
Will you be home in time?
(usually: not late, before your regular bedtime) De trein is meestal op tijd
2
The train is usually on time (on schedule) Ik hoop dat 't op tijd is
I hope it's in time We waren net op tijd
2
We were just in time Zorg dat je op tijd bent
2
3
4
Take care to be in time
means 'earlier' in the sense of 'before.' The phrase
'nooit eerder'
2
('never before') is quite common.
Dutch '(de) eer'
2
is 'honor' but in old-fashioned Dutch it's also 'before' - probably
related to English 'ere.' 'Eerder' looks like a comparative degree
of that 'eer,' and 'eerste'
('first')
- >>
as the superlative degree.
Bezint eer ge begint
2
3
(saying)
Think before you [begin] act -
Flemish 'ge' = 'je' (you)
Dat had ik veel eerder moeten doen
2
I should have done that [much earlier] long ago Ik heb 't nooit eerder gemerkt
2
3
I never noticed it before 't Is me nooit eerder opgevallen
2
3
4
5
I never noticed it before Ik had er eerder nooit last van
2
It never bothered me before
(hurt, caused discomfort) '(For) A Moment' - Dutch 'Even'
'Even'
2
3
- a moment, for a moment
Wacht even
2
Wait a moment Wacht eens even
2
Now wait a moment Hoor eens even
Now listen, that's outrageous Heel even
2
A very short time Hij is even naar buiten gegaan
He stepped (outside) out for a moment Ik ga even een blokje om
2
I'll make a walk around the block Hij is even weg
He's [away for a moment] not here right now Ik ga even naar de bakker
2
I'll make a quick run to the bakery "Even naar de bakker"
Just a quick trip to the bakery Even afkloppen
2
3
[Take a moment to] knock on wood Mag ik even?
2
[May I] allow me (a moment) Mag ik me even voorstellen?
2
Allow me to introduce myself Dat duurt nog wel even
2
3
[That's] It's going to take a while
't Was even droog
2
3
For a moment it was dry,
it didn't rain for a short time 't Was even stil
2
3
For a moment it was quiet Kijk even achterom voordat je afslaat
2
Quickly look back before you make a turn Zeg je nog even dag tegen Jan?
2
Please take a moment
to say Goodbye (or Hello) to Jan Laat ik dat eerst even doen
2
Let me do that first ('quickly') Drink eerst even rustig een kopje thee
2
First relax and take a moment
to drink a cup of tea Even zitten!
2
I'm going to sit down for a moment (and relax) Ik wil er nog even over nadenken
2
3
I'd like (some time) to think about it Je kunt nog even blijven liggen
2
You may stay in bed a little longer Heb je even tijd?
2
(3)
Do you have a moment? Heb je nog even tijd?
Do you (still) have a moment?
2
/or/ 'ogenblikje'
2
- see also:
telephone
- 2
"momentje"
2
"just a moment" "een momentje alstublieft"
"just a moment please" "ogenblikje"
2
"just a moment"
->> "een ogenblikje"
"just a moment" "een ogenblikje alstublieft"
"just a moment please"
is English 'just as.'
Without 'als' in this meaning it can be
translated by something like 'equally.'
Hij is even oud als jij
2
['He's as old as you'] - He's your age We zijn even oud
2
['We are equally old'] - 'We are the same age'
may also mean
'even' like in English, 'numbers divisible by 2' -
even getallen
2
('even numbers.')
even en oneven getallen
even and odd numbers
in Dutch -
See also:
Disambiguation: 'Even'
Zelfs in de schaduw was het warm
Even in the shade it was hot
'In A Moment' - Dutch 'Zo'
Dutch zo
can mean 'soon, in a moment'
Tot zo!
2
3
See you soon! We gaan zo eten
2
3
We'll eat (have dinner or lunch) in a moment Ik ben zo klaar
I'll be ready, I'm done in a moment Ik kom zo bij U
2
I'll [come to you] be with you in a minute Dat zie je zo
2
3
4
You [see] notice that right away Zullen we zo gaan?
2
3
[Shall we go in a moment?]
- Let's leave (go somewhere) soon
't Wordt zo vroeg donker
2
3
It gets dark so early Dat is zo ouderwets!
That's so old-fashioned! 't Is zo voorspelbaar wat-ie doet
It is so predictable what he does,
his behavior is so predictable Is 't al zò laat?
2
Is it already that late?
2 - a contraction of
'zo een'
2 - but without the
pause zo'n sounds the same as zoon
('son')
zo'n mooie dag
2
such a beautiful day zo'n sombere zomer
such a dark, gloomy Summer
2
('like,' 'as,' 'similar to') - and its split-up form
zo ... als
2
with an adverb in between.
2
3
4
5
['There is no place where the clock ticks like at home']
'Home sweet home'
Dutch 'Net:'
A Moment Ago / Just, Barely
In the paragraph above we've seen
zoals
2 and with
an adjective or adverb on the dotted line,
zo ... als
2
- for emphasis,
net
('just') can be added:
'net zo ... als'
2
('just like ...') - and it can again be de-emphasized by
dropping the 'zo.'
Net als vroeger
2
3
Just like before, just as in the past
See
Disambiguation: 'Net'
for more examples outside the time context
We waren net op tijd
2
3
We were just in time op 't nippertje
in the nick of time, with barely a moment to spare op de valreep
at the last possible moment We waren net op tijd voor de pont
We were just in time for the ferry De pont is net weg
2
The ferry just left Net voordat 't begon te regenen
2
3
Just before [that] it [started to rain] rained Ik wilde je net roepen
2
3
I was just about to get (call) you We hebben de bus net gemist
2
3
4
We just (barely?) missed the bus
Hij is net thuis
2
He just came home, only a minute ago Ik heb net een sinaasappel gegeten
2
I just [ate] had an orange Ik heb net gegorgeld met citroensap
I just gargled with lemon juice Then - Dutch
'Toen' or 'Dan'
English 'then,' meaning 'at that time'
simply states what happens next, referring to something
mentioned before. It can be about
either a past or a future event. It's often found in the common,
somewhat boring
phrase 'and then ...' meaning 'after that,' giving a sequence
of two or more events.
2
3
... en toen ...
2
'... and then ...' (an event in the past)
Toen was ik op reis
2
3
I was traveling then, at the time I was traveling ... en toen gingen we eten
2
... and then we [went to eat] had a meal ... en toen werd het donker
2
3
4
... and then it got dark
more 'toen'
2
... en dan ...
2
'... and then ...' (future events)
Dan ben ik op reis
2
3
Then, at that time I will be traveling ... en dan gaan we eten
2
... and then we'll eat ... en dan wordt 't donker
2
3
... and then it will get dark
more 'dan'
ik was toen 52 (tweeënvijftig) kilo
![]() |
I was 52 kilos then, I was 52 kilos at the time |
... en toen dronken we koffie
![]() |
... and then we had coffee |
... en toen kwam Jan
![]() |
... and then Jan arrived |
... en toen ben ik naar Amerika gegaan
![]() |
... and then I went to the U.S. |
Neem de tweede weg links
en dan de derde weg rechts
![]() |
Take the 2nd road to the left and then the 3rd to the right |
... en dan is er feest
![]() |
... and then there'll be a party |
... en dan wordt 't spannend
![]() |
... and then it'll get exciting |
Dat zien we dan wel weer
![]() |
We'll see about that [then] when the time comes |
Referring just to a specific time in
the past, you can also say indertijd
2
('at that time') - but you could just as well say
'toen'
2
3
Dat is indertijd niet goed gedaan
![]() |
That was not done correctly at the time |
Dutch has many standard phrases (see also: Sayings) with 'dan' - often about less-than-ideal outcomes or situations that mean trouble.
Dan houdt alles op
![]() |
['Then everything ends'] |
Dan ben je nog niet jarig
![]() |
['Then it won't be like your birthday'] You'll be in trouble, you'll suffer |
Dan zijn we nog verder van huis
![]() |
['Then we're even farther from home'] Making an already bad situation worse |
Dan heb je de poppen aan het dansen
![]() |
['Then you'll have the dolls dancing'] There'll be trouble |
Dan heb je 't gedonder in de glazen
![]() |
['Then you'll have the windows rattling'] There'll be trouble |
Dan vind je de hond in de pot
![]() |
['Then you'll find the dog in the cooking pot'] Coming late to a meal, everything is gone and the dog is cleaning out the pots |
... en dan komt de aap uit de mouw
![]() |
[... and then the monkey comes out of the sleeve'] The truth comes out |
Dan is 't voorbij met de pret
![]() |
Then the fun is over, back to normal or worse |
Dan is 't gedaan met de pret
![]() |
Then the fun is over, back to normal or worse |
Dan is 't uit met de pret
![]() |
Then the fun is over, back to normal or worse |
Dan weet je dat voor de volgende keer
![]() |
[Then you know] So you can keep that in mind the next time | Dan moet je vroeger opstaan
![]() |
[Then] For that you'll have to get up earlier (be more alert and active) | Dan hoor je het ook eens van een ander
![]() |
[Then] That way you'll also hear it from someone else (get a second opinion) |
'Dan' can also be like English 'than' -
used with the comparative degree, for
instance
groter dan
2
('bigger than') - more examples
in Disambiguation: 'Dan'
Beter laat dan nooit
![]() |
Better late than never |
Londen is ouder dan Berlijn
![]() |
London is older than Berlin |
Meer dan drie uur
![]() |
More than three hours |
Toen de zon onderging ...
![]() |
When the sun went down ... |
Toen de zon onderging begon de muziek
![]() |
When the sun went down the music started |
Ze gingen weg toen de zon onderging
![]() |
They [went away] left when the sun went down |
Toen de bliksem insloeg ging het licht uit
![]() |
When lightning hit the light went out |
Toen het licht uitging zag ik de sterren
![]() |
When the light went out I saw the stars |
Toen ik de sterren zag begreep ik ...
![]() |
When I saw the stars I understood ... |
Toen het licht groen werd reden we weg
![]() |
When the light turned green we drove off |
Toen het donker werd gingen we naar huis
![]() |
When it got dark we went home |
We gingen naar huis toen het donker werd
![]() |
We went home when it got dark |
Toen het donker werd ging het licht aan
![]() |
When it got dark the light came on |
Toen we naar huis gingen was het donker
![]() |
When we went home it was dark |
Toen we naar huis gingen werd het donker
![]() |
When we went home it was getting dark |
Toen ik het licht aandeed sloegen de stoppen door
When I turned on the light the fuses blew
Toen ik z'n fiets optilde
begreep ik hoe hij zo hard kon rijden
2
3
4
When I lifted up his bike I understood
how he could ride that fast
't IJzer smeden als het heet is
![]() |
['Smith'] Forge the iron when it's hot |
Je moet ijzer smeden als 't heet is
![]() |
You should work/forge the iron when it's hot |
Kijk even achterom als je afslaat
![]() |
Look backward for a moment when you make a turn (in traffic) |
Doe je het licht uit als je weggaat?
![]() |
Will you turn off the light when you leave? |
In het Nederlands zeggen we 'gezondheid' als iemand niest
In Dutch we say 'gezondheid'
when somebody sneezes
2
Maar als ik heel snel praat, daar heeft niemand wat aan
slow
2
3
But when I talk very fast it's of
[use to no-one] no use to anyone
Als de zon schijnt terwijl 't regent
krijg je soms een regenboog
When the sun is shining while it is raining
you sometimes get a rainbow
Als het donker is ...
![]() |
When it's dark ... |
Als de R in de maand zit
![]() |
When there's an R in [the name of] the month |
Als de muziek begint moet je stil zijn
![]() |
When the music starts you have to be quiet |
Als het concert begint moet je stil zijn
![]() |
When the concert starts you have to be quiet |
Als de zon schijnt ben ik blij
![]() |
When the sun is shining I'm happy |
Ik ben blij als de zon schijnt
![]() |
I'm happy when the sun is shining |
Als het regent word ik droevig
![]() |
When it rains I get sad |
Als de dagen lengen, gaan de nachten strengen
![]() |
When the days get longer, the nights get more severe (i.e. colder) |
Als dat achter de rug is
![]() |
When that's behind [our back] us |
Als 't licht rood is moet je stoppen
![]() |
When the light is red you have to stop |
Als 't licht rood wordt moet je stoppen
![]() |
When the light turns red you have to stop |
Als het licht groen is mag je doorrijden
![]() |
When the light is green you may drive on |
Als je vis eet moet je ook wat drinken
![]() |
When you're [eating] having fish you should also drink [something] |
Als je goed kijkt ...
![]() |
When you look sharp, when you inspect it closely ... |
'When' and especially 'if' can be combined with
'then' to the somewhat formal condition-and-result
'when/if ... then ...'
- in Dutch this 'then' is 'dan'
Haast je als je de tijd hebt,
dan heb je de tijd als je haast hebt
Als morgen de hemel valt hebben we allemaal een blauwe muts
'Toen' for the past and
'als' for the present or future is a good rule of thumb, though
it is actually about the verb tense - but don't worry about it.
In a poetic mood I could produce
this sentence and there's nothing wrong with it:
Als de oorlog begint is m'n vader tweeëndertig
Somewhat bookishly, 'if' can be
translated as indien
Another
Dutch construction with a
similar meaning of 'if there are any ...,
in case of ...' is 'mochten er ...'
'Als'
'Als' can also be translated as 'as' indicating
representation - see
also Disambiguation: 'Als'
When? / wanneer? can also mean 'under what conditions, in
which situation:'
When it's about hours, you can as well say 'what time?' /
hoe laat
English 'yet' is
somewhat similar to 'still' and is also often
translated as 'nog'
Ik ben bang dat de avocado's nog niet rijp zijn
The opposite of 'not yet'
'nog niet'
Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg
Dutch 'eens'
Stressing 'nog' in
'nòg eens' or
'nòg een keer'
When 'Nog'
'Nog'
English 'still'
can also point out something unexpected,
often after an 'although' ('hoewel'
Hoewel 't regende
ging hij toch zonder jas naar buiten
Dutch 'nog'
The opposite of 'nog' / 'still' is
niet meer
The opposite of 'already'
'al'
'Alvast'
Dutch 'al' can also mean
'all, everything' and occasionally it has a meaning
indicating extremes, like 'even' - also see and hear:
Disambiguation: 'Al'
Springtij
'Herfsttij der Middeleeuwen'
(het) tijdverdrijf
ouden van dagen
Ik ben wel oud, maar toch niet
zò oud
Mijn moeder zou dit jaar honderd geworden zijn
But English 'age' may also refer
to a span of time, an era,
usually in the past. Dutch then mostly says
tijd
2
- als ... dan
- though in Dutch the 'dan' is usually dropped. 'Als' can
also be dropped.
'Hurry when you have time, then you'll have time when you're
in a hurry' (informal 'you')
Haast U als U de tijd heeft,
dan heeft U de tijd als U haast heeft
'Hurry when you have time, then you'll have time when you're
in a hurry' (polite 'you')
Als de lente komt, dan stuur ik jou tulpen uit Amsterdam
2
[When Spring arrives] Come Spring I'll send you
tulips from Amsterdam
Baat 't niet, dan schaadt 't niet
2
'If there is no benefit, there will no damage either' Als je 't nu niet doet, wanneer dan wel?
2
[If you don't do it now,
when are you going to do it then?]
- If not now, when? Als 't hard regent blijf ik thuis
2
If it's raining hard I'll stay home -
word order Als 't mee zit ...
2
If it goes well, if we're lucky ... Als 't mee zit is 't morgen klaar
If things go well it'll be ready tomorrow Als 't tegen zit ...
2
If things don't go well, if we're not lucky ... Als 't tegenzit
kan 't nog wel een week
duren
If it doesn't go well it may take a week Als ik 't goed begrijp ...
2
3
4
If I understand it correctly ... Als er wat is ...
2
If there is something ... (like, a problem)
Als blikken konden doden ...
2
If looks could kill ... Als ik jou was ...
2
If I were you ... Als ik jou was zou ik niet gaan
If I were you I wouldn't go Als 't regent wordt de wedstrijd afgelast
If it's raining the match will be canceled Als ik dat vragen mag
If I may ask Als morgen de hemel valt
If the sky falls tomorrow ... Als de hemel morgen valt
If the sky falls tomorrow ... Als je ooit deze kant op komt ...
If you ever come this way (an invitation to get in touch then) Als 't moet
If it has to be Als je 't nu niet doet, wanneer dan wel?
2
[If you don't do it now, when are you?] -
If not now, when?
2
3
If the sky falls tomorrow we'll all have a blue cap
(said when someone continually offers depressing scenarios)
Als het niet vanzelf overgaat ga ik ermee naar de dokter
If it doesn't go away by itself
I'll go see a doctor about it
Zelfs als hij geweten had dat het zou gaan regenen ...
2
Even if he'd known it was going to rain
2
3
When the war starts, my Dad is 32
2
3 'in case that ...'
2
Mochten er vragen zijn ...
In case of questions, if there are any questions ... Mochten er problemen zijn ...
In case of problems, if there are any problems ...
can also mean 'as' or 'like' in comparisons and
is often used in related phrases like even ... als
and net zo ... als
2
- both meaning
'just as.' Zoals /or/ zo ... als
2
('like') and alsof
('as if.')
See Disambiguation: 'Als' for more examples
'n Dag als alle andere
2
3
A day like all others, just another day Zo oud als de weg naar Kralingen
2
3
[As old as the road to K.] Old as the hills Hij is even oud als jij
2
[He is equally old as you] He is your age Net als vroeger
2
3
Just like [before] in the past Zoals ik al zei
2
3
As I already said, as I said before Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt 't nergens
2
3
4
5
6
Nowhere the clock ticks
like at home (home sweet home) 't Was alsof de zon om middernacht opkwam
As if the sun rose at midnight
Als voorbeeld
2
As an example Als Nederlander zou ik zeggen: "ja!"
As a Dutchman I would say: "Yes!" When? - At What Time? - 'Wanneer?'
English 'when'
can also be a question:
'at what time?' The Dutch word for this 'when?' is
'wanneer?'
-
keep in mind that in questions, the verb comes before the
subject -
more
Kunt U mij zeggen wanneer de laatste trein gaat?
Wanneer kom je terug?
When are you coming back? Wanneer kom je thuis?
When will you be back home? Wanneer ben je jarig?
When is your birthday? [when are you year-y?] Wanneer is hij jarig?
When is his birthday? Wanneer is 't klaar?
2
3
When will it be ready? Wanneer heb je gegeten?
2
When, what time have you eaten? Wanneer heb je voor 't laatst gegeten?
2
What time have you
(eaten for the last time) last eaten? Wanneer gaat de volgende trein?
2
3
What time does the next train (go) leave? Weet je al wanneer?
2
Do you already know when? Weet je al wanneer 't gaat gebeuren?
2
3
Do you already know when it's going to happen? Wanneer anders?
2
3
At what other time? ~If not now/then, when?
2
3
4
Could you please tell me what time the last train leaves?
Wanneer heb je voor het laatst een brief geschreven?
When was the last time you've written
a letter?
Wanneer mag je liegen?
2
3
4
When [are you] is it allowed to lie,
tell untruths?
2
3
- >>
instead of 'when?'/wanneer?
Hoe laat gaat de volgende trein?
2
What time [goes] is the next train?
Still, Yet
Like English 'still,'
the Dutch adverb 'nog'
usually refers to an ongoing situation, a continuing condition or
a remaining amount
Heb je de laatste tijd nog een goed boek gelezen?
Zijn de bananen nog groen?
Are the bananas still green? Is 't nog goed?
2
3
Is it still good? (food, still edible?) Leven je ouders nog?
2
Are your parents still alive? Het is nog vroeg
It is still early Dan weet ik nog niks
2
3
Then I still [know nothing] don't know
anything (failed experiments, useless information) Ik heb nog een koffer in Berlijn (staan)
2
(3)
I still have a suitcase [standing] in Berlin
(from a German song by Hildegard Knef) Hoeveel tijd is er nog?
2
3
How much time is [there still] left? Hoe lang nog?
[How long still?] How much longer? Er is nog veel werk
2
There is still a lot of work Er is nog veel te doen
2
There is still much to do Er is nog veel papier
There is still a lot of paper Er moet nog hard gewerkt
It still needs a lot of hard work Er is nog zoveel te doen!
2
3
4
There is still so much to do! Heb je nog even tijd?
Do you still have a moment? Is er nog genoeg tijd?
Is there still enough time? Is er nog genoeg brood?
2
Is there still enough bread? Een prettige dag nog
[Enjoy the remainder of the day] Have a nice day Nog vele jaren!
[Still many years! Wishing you many more years]
- Many happy returns! - (Birthday) Moet je nog eten?
2
3
Do you still have to eat? Have you not eaten yet? Heb je Piet nog gekend?
[Have you still known Piet?] Did you ever meet
Piet? (he has passed away or moved ) Zij denkt dat het nog gaat gebeuren
She thinks it's still going to happen Ik luister nog vaak naar ...
2
I still (often) listen to ... De CD ... van ... draai ik ook nog vaak.
I still often play the CD ... by ...
Have you (still) read a good book lately?
Hoe lang nog voor we weer een overstroming krijgen?
How much longer till [we get] there is [again a]
another flood?
- especially in the negative 'not yet' -
'nog niet'
2
3 and
'nog geen'
- something awaiting fulfillment, a situation not
reached, a condition not met
(niet
2 'not' is a kind
of adverb, stating a negative about a verb or saying an action was not
taken, while geen
'no' is a kind of adjective meaning 'zero quantity.')
Ik heb nog geen rollator
[I have no walker yet] I still don't have a walker Ik heb nog niet gegeten
I have not eaten yet We hebben de oorlog nog niet gewonnen
We have not yet won the war,
we still have not won the war Ik heb nog niet gestemd
I have not voted yet Ik ben bang dat het nog niet klaar is
I'm afraid it's not ready yet Er is nog geen oplossing
There is still no solution,
there is yet no solution 't Is nog geen tijd
2
It's not time yet Heb je nog niet gegeten?
2
Haven't you eaten yet? 't Is nog niet te laat
2
3
It's not too late yet We zijn er bijna
We're almost there - maar nog niet helemaal
2
- but not yet [entirely, completely]
at the end of the journey
2
I'm afraid the avocados are not ripe yet
2
3
is 'already' 'al'
2
>>
't Is al over elven
2
'It's already past 11'
Hij zag de bui al hangen
['He had already seen the rainshower
"hanging"']
- 'He understood trouble was brewing'
2
Just do like you always do,
that's enough craziness already
(often pronounced with 'voiceless E, schwa'
as
)
2
3
'Nog eens'
2 means 'once more,
once again' - 'again'
Kunt U dat nog eens zeggen?
Could you please say that one more time,
again, repeat that? Zou U dat nog eens willen zeggen?
2
Would you mind repeating that please? Ik heb laatst ... nog eens gelezen
Sometime ago I have re-read ...
changes the meaning from
'sometime' to 'again, once more, once more again'
Ik wil ook nog een keer naar Amerika
I would like to visit the US sometime Ik wil nòg een keer naar Jeruzalem
2
3
I want to visit Jerusalem again, once more Wie weet er nog een mop?
[Who knows a joke?]
Anybody has a joke to tell? Wie weet er nòg een mop?
2
Who still [knows] has another joke to tell? (people have
been telling jokes for a while)
is combined with 'steeds'
2
('continually, all the time' -
more above) - to
'nog steeds'
2
3
it just amplifies the meaning of 'still, yet' - giving it a sense of
being unexpected, surprising, sometimes like 'after all these years.'
Heb je al een rollator?
2
3
Do you already have a walker? Ik heb geen rollator
2
3
I don't have a walker Ik heb nog geen rollator
I don't have a walker yet Ik heb nog steeds geen rollator
2
3
I still don't have a walker
(despite my age / I should get one etc.)
can be combined with various other time words like
'nooit'
2
('never' - more
above) - to
'nog nooit'
2
('never yet, never before, never')
Ik had me nog nooit zo beroerd gevoeld
2
3
I'd never felt that miserable (sick) before )
statement - translated in Dutch as 'toch'
2 - See also:
'Toch'
2
Although it was raining he still went out without a coat
in combination with a superlative degree is usually translated as
'even' in English, but 'still' may fit too.
Moeten we de dijken nog verder verhogen?
Do we have to,
should we raise the levees still (even) further?
2
3
('no longer, not anymore') - though depending on context it can also mean 'not
more, not a larger amount'
Heb je niet meer voorbeelden?
2
Don't you have more examples? Is er niet meer geld?
2
3
Is there not more money? Is that all the money
there is? niet meer belangrijk
2
not important anymore,
no longer important, 'moot' Ik kan het niet meer bijhouden
2
I cannot keep up with it anymore 't Is niet leuk meer
2
It's no fun anymore 't Is niet lekker meer
2
It doesn't taste good anymore
(spoiled food) Als ik er niet meer ben ...
2
3
When I'm no longer around,
when I'm gone (dead) ... De minuutwijzer
beweegt bijna niet meer
slow
The minute hand is barely moving anymore
->>
Er was niet veel tijd meer
['There was no longer much time']
- there was not much time left Er was opeens geen geld meer
2
3
Suddenly there was no more money - suddenly the
money was gone Ik weet 't niet meer
2
[I no longer know it] - I have forgotten (it)
-or- I don't know what to think anymore Ik kan er niet meer tegen
2
3
I can't stand it anymore Ik wil niet meer
2
I don't want (to go on) anymore Ik zag 't niet meer zitten
I didn't see a future (depressed) Already
English 'already' is
'al'
2 in Dutch - something
happened or was established in the past, before now, or something is
surprising or unexpected.
The very old-fashioned
'alreeds'
2
3
looks and sounds somewhat similar to 'already' - and you may find the
slightly more modern
'reeds'
2 in books.
Zijn de bananen al geel?
2
Are the bananas already yellow? Zijn de perziken al rijp?
2
Are the peaches ripe already? Heb je al kaartjes?
2
3
Did you already get the tickets? (travel, events) Heb je al een rollator?
2
3
Do you have a walker already? Weet je al wanneer?
2
Do you already know when? Weet je al wanneer 't gaat gebeuren?
2
3
Do you know already when it's going to happen?
(something big like surgery, remodeling) Ben je al klaar?
Are you done (finished) already? Heb je al gegeten?
2
Have you eaten (already)? Is de post al geweest?
2
Has the mail come in already?
Has the mailman come by? Heb je al gestemd?
2
Did you vote already?
Have you already voted? Heb je het nieuws gehoord?
2
3
Have you heard the news? Heb je het nieuws al gehoord?
2
3
Have you (already) heard the news? Had ik dat al gezegd?
2
Did I say that already? Zoals ik al zei
2
3
As I already said, as I said before Er wordt al zoveel gezegd
2
So much is being/has been said already Ze zijn al twintig jaar samen
2
They've (already) been together for 20 years
(married, in a relationship) Ze werken al twintig jaar samen
They've (already) been working together for 20 years 't Is eigenlijk al te laat
It is really (almost) already too late Al doende leert men
2
3
[Already, while doing, you learn]
Practice makes perfect Daar was ik al bang voor
2
I was already afraid of that Hij heeft z'n hand al ingepakt
( 2
3
4 )
He's packed his hand already (jokey remark
about the bad habit of putting
a hand in your pocket while speaking in public) Ik heb al van alles
2
I already have (own) all kinds of things Ik heb al zoveel
I already have so much Ik heb je er al vaak op gewezen
2
3
4
I have already pointed it out to you so often Ik heb al verkering
I am already in a relationship, going steady
(jokey, old-fashioned)
2
is 'not yet'
'nog niet'
2
3
>>
2
3
4
means 'already' or 'meanwhile' in the sense of bridging a period of
time, usually 'in advance'
Hier is alvast een voorschot
2
Here's already some money in advance Alvast bedankt!
2
Thank you in advance! or you can say: Bij voorbaat bedankt
Thank you in advance! Bij voorbaat mijn dank
2
[My thanks in advance] Thank you in advance! van tevoren
2
in advance, beforehand
Eind goed, al goed
2
3
[End good, all good] All's well that ends well Al kost 't me jaren
2
3
Even if it takes (me) years Changes in Word Order
You must have noticed changes in Dutch word order earlier on the page:
See also my general
Word Order page
or the Smartphone page
- more
't Regent hard
2
It's raining hard, there's a heavy rain
Als 't hard regent blijf ik thuis
2
If it's raining hard,
if there's a heavy rain I'll stay at home
-
more
Het is donker
2
It is dark
's Nachts is het donker
2
At night it is dark
-
more
Je bent boos
2
You are angry
Ben je boos?
2
Are you angry?
The Tides
It is very possible that the words for 'time' and 'tides' are from a
common root. As the poet Robinson Jeffers said, 'The tides are in our
veins.' (1924)
De getijden hebben we in ons bloed
2
[literally: 'we have the tides in our blood']
(de) tijd
2
'time'
(de) getijden
2
'tides'
(het) tij
'tide'
(het) getij
2
3
'tide'
(de) eb
2
'ebb, low tide'
(de) vloed
'flow, high tide'
(de) overstroming
'flood, inundation'
['jump tide'] - when the high tide is
very high because the Sun and Moon align, pulling on the sea in tandem
Hoogtijdagen
2 ['Days of
high tide'] - heyday, the high point, prime, 'when they were at their best'
(het) jaargetijde
- a slightly old-fashioned word for 'season'
2
'The Waning of the Middle Ages' - a famous 1919 book
by Johan Huizinga
2
about the atmosphere and mindset of the late Middle Ages in France and
The Low Countries. Mr Huizinga made up the word 'Herfsttij'
himself. I used to think it meant
'Autumn Tide,' and then assumed 'Autumn Ebb Tide,' but my
old dictionary tells me
(het) tij
((het) getij
2
3)
can also be short for (het) jaargetijde ('season') - so
'Autumn Season' stressing the going down, running out, ending.
In the book title
it is usually translated as 'Waning.'
Time
(de) vrije tijd
leisure time, time off (de) proeftijd
2
trial period (de) tijdverspilling
2
waste of time Uit de tijd
[Out of Time] Not of this time
->>
'n andere keer
another time, not now
->>
Tijd is geld
2
'Time is money' - time is valuable De tijd vliegt
'Time flies' De tijd vliedt
2
3
(old-fashioned)
'Time moves quickly' Beidt Uw tijd
2
3
(old-fashioned)
Bide your time, wait for the right moment Bij tijd en wijle
(old-fashioned)
from time to time tegen de tijd dat ...
2
3
by the time that ...
(de) bedtijd
2
bedtime
->> (de) diensttijd
2
time as a conscript
in the military
->>(de) eindtijd
end time, end-of-days (de) incubatietijd
2
incubation period
->> openingstijden
[opening] business hours
->> (de) reistijd
travel time
->> (de) overtijd
2
overtime
->> (de) theepauze
2
[tea break] teatime
->> (het) tijdschrift
magazine, periodical
->> (de) wachttijd
2
waiting time (de) zaaitijd
sowing time (de) oogsttijd
2
3
harvest time (de) zomertijd
daylight saving time (de) tijdsduur
2
duration, length of time (het) tijdstip
2
point in time tijdrovend
2
[time-robbing] time-consuming tijdloos
2
3
'timeless' - "never gets old" (de) tijdgenoot
2
contemporary - person
The above 'het is tijd' / 'it
is time'
phrases mean 'the moment is here, something should happen or be done
right now'
't Is tijd
2
It is time 't Is tijd om op te staan
2
3
It's time to get up 't Is hoog tijd
2
It's high time hoogste tijd
High[est] time, very urgent 't Wordt tijd
2
3
4
It is about time (we've
been waiting too long) Het is nog geen tijd
2
It's not time yet de hele tijd
2
all the time
(de) volledige baan
2
3
[complete] full-time job
->> deeltijd
part-time
(both noun and adjective - but the English word is more common)
een tijdje
2
3
['a little time' - a small amount of time]
- a short time, a while na een tijdje
2
(3 )
after a while een tijdje later
2
a little later Alles op z'n tijd
2
3
Everything in its good time,
there will be a right time for everything Als er tijd voor is ...
2
3
4
If there is time (for it) ... Er is geen tijd voor
2
There is no time (for it) Er was geen tijd
2
There was no time Is er nog genoeg tijd?
Is there still enough time? Er is genoeg tijd
There is enough time Er is niet genoeg tijd
There's not enough time Er is nooit genoeg tijd
There's never enough time Ze zeggen dat er niet genoeg tijd is
[They say] It is said that there's not enough time Ik hoop dat je d'r (er) tijd voor hebt
2
3
4
I hope you'll have time for it Daar heb ik geen tijd voor
2
I don't have time (for that) Ik heb er geen tijd voor
2
3
I don't have time (for it) Het kost te veel tijd
2
3
It [costs] takes too much time
Niemand heeft genoeg tijd
2
3
Nobody has enough time Ik heb meer tijd nodig
2
I need more time (to finish) De mooiste tijd van m'n leven
2
The [most beautiful] best time of my life in mijn tijd ...
In my time, in my day
(when I was in my prime) in die tijd
2
at that time In die tijd hadden we allemaal lang haar
At that time all of us had long hair
>> Er waren in die tijd geen violen
2
At that time there were no violins Ze was haar tijd vooruit
2
She was ahead of her time ver vooruit
2
3
4
far ahead in vredestijd
2
in peacetime, in time of peace in oorlogstijd
2
in wartime, in time of war moeilijke tijden
2
3
hard times De mooiste auto aller tijden
2
3
4
The most beautiful car of all time,
The most beautiful car ever
->> tegen die tijd
2
3
['against, touching'] when that time comes, by
that time tegen die tijd is er wel een
oplossing
2
3
By that time there will (sure)
be a solution Gezelligheid kent geen tijd
2
'Time flies when you're having a good time with friends' Waar blijft de tijd?
2
3
4
5
- 'blijven'
2
'Where does the time go?'
usually means 'to remain, to stay'
>>
Hoeveel tijd er is verstreken
2
3
How much time has passed,
how long ago it is Er is weinig tijd
2
3
There is [little] not much time Er is weinig tijd voor muziek
There is little time for music Hoe weinig tijd er is voor mezelf
2
How little time there is to myself Ik heb nergens tijd voor
2
3
[I have time for nothing]
- I don't have time for anything Er is nergens tijd voor
[There is time for nothing]
- There is no time for anything tijd besteden aan
2
spending time on Ik besteed veel tijd aan m'n website
2
3
I'm spending a lot of time
(working) on my website Dat hebben we een tijd niet gehad
2
We haven't had that [for some time] in a while
(eaten, experienced that) We hebben alle tijd
2
3
4
We have all the time (in the world)
- no need to rush Rustig maar
2
3
Calm down, take it easy, no need to rush /
"there, there"
De tijd zal 't leren
2
Time will [teach] tell Tijd van leven
2
3
'Time to live' - time to enjoy life,
doing your own thing Vadertje Tijd
2
3
['Little Father Time'] - 'Old Man Time De tand des tijds
2
3
4
'The tooth of time'] - decay due to age
(human and general)
Ik heb geen tijd
2
3
[I have no time] I don't have time (for it,
for you)
Ik heb echt geen tijd
2
3
4
I really don't have time (I'm sorry)
Ik heb eigenlijk geen tijd
2
3
4
5
I really have no time - I shouldn't
but I'll give you a minute
- more
2 is an
old-fashioned word for 'pastime' - the common word is the English
(de) hobby
2
- 'n dure hobby
2
3
('an expensive hobby')
'Period' as the dot at the end of a line is
'(de) punt'
2
3
4
5
in Dutch - see and hear more
punctuation marks -
Punt uit!
2
3
is Dutch for 'period!' - end of argument.
'Age' - Leeftijd / Tijd
English 'age' can be a person's age,
for which Dutch has the word
(de) leeftijd
2
3
('age')
jong
(jong/jonge
2)
young
oud
2
(oude
2)
old See also:
Age Groups
bejaard
2
elderly, old, over 65
bejaarde
2
an elderly person
bejaarden
elderly people
2
['old of days'] - a polite phrase for 'old people, the elderly'
ouders
'parents'
(de) jongen
'boy' - young'un
van mijn leeftijd
2
3
'of my age' - of the same age as I iemand van mijn leeftijd
2
someone (of) my age op mijn leeftijd
2
'at my age' - at this stage in my life op die leeftijd
2
at that age Toen ik jouw leeftijd was ...
2
When I was your age ..., at your age ... Toen ik jouw leeftijd was had ik er ook veel last van
2
3
When I was your age it also bothered me a lot Op m'n oude dag
2
in my old [day] age een onbezorgde oude dag
2
3
a worry-free, carefree old [day] age De Oude Garde
The Old Guard (de) levensavond
2
[life's evening] old age Met de ouderdom komen de gebreken
2
'[With] In old age defects appear'
Wat gebeurde er toen je twintig was?
(2)
What happened when you were 20 years old? Ik ben zevenentwintig
I'm 27 (years old)
- Numbers Toen ik zestien was
2
3
When I was 16, at age 16 Op m'n veertigste
2
At 40 -
Ordinal Numbers twintig lentes jong
2
'20 springtimes young'
(said by slimeballs) Als ik wat jonger was ...
2
If I were a little younger ... achter in de twintig
2
3
in his/her late twenties Ze is midden vijftig
2
She is in her mid-fifties in m'n jonge jaren
2
3
'in my younger years, when I was younger' Daar ben ik te oud voor
2
I'm too old for that Oud en de dagen zat
2
3
Old and tired of the days Ik word oud
2
I'm getting old Hoe oud ben je?
2
3
'How old are you? What is your age?'
Hoe oud ben je geworden?
2
'How old [have you become] are you now?'
Birthday Hij is even oud als jij
2
['He's as old as you'] - He's your age We zijn even oud
2
['We are equally old'] - 'We are the same age' But also: 'Ik ben weer de oude'
2
['I'm the old one again']
- 'I'm back to normal'
2
I may be old, but I'm not that old (yet)
2
My mother would have turned a hundred this year
2
3 ('time') -
a somewhat bookish word for 'era' is
(het) tijdperk
2
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Actually, there's also (de) bronsttijd
(double T but with the same pronunciation as 'Bronstijd')
'the mating season' - (de) bronst
2
('rut/heat')
(de) holenmens
2
'caveman'
Ik heb geleden
![]() |
'I have suffered' |
Het leed is geleden
![]() |
'The suffering [has been suffered] is over' |
But geleden can also mean 'ago'
lang geleden
![]() |
'long ago' |
kortgeleden
![]() |
a short time ago, not that long ag |
drie dagen geleden
![]() | 'three days ago' |
twee jaar geleden
![]() |
'two years ago' |
een paar jaar geleden
![]() |
'a few years ago' |
tien jaar geleden
![]() | '10 years ago' |
M'n vader is veertig jaar geleden overleden
![]() |
My Dad passed away 40 years ago |
Keep in mind that in a sentence
starting with a
condition (like these statements about time) the acting verb comes before
the subject:
(more)
Een paar maanden geleden zijn we naar een
optreden van Dragonforce geweest
'A few months ago we [went to] were at a
Dragonforce concert'
in het verleden
![]() |
in the past |
in 'n ver verleden
![]() |
'in a [far] distant past' |
verleden jaar
![]() ![]() |
'last year' |
(de) verleden tijd (verLEden tijd)
![]() |
(the) past tense ->> |
verleden tijd (verleden TIJD)
![]() |
the past, 'history' |
Dat is verleden tijd
![]() | 'That's past, that's over' - "That's history" |
But coloquially,
rather say 'vroeger'
than 'in het verleden'
2
3
for 'in the past, before' - of course, 'vroeger' is also
('literally') the comparative
degree of 'vroeg'
'early' - >>
Net als vroeger
![]() |
'Just like before, just like in the past' |
heel vroeger
![]() |
[much before] a long time ago, far in the past |
Vroeger was alles beter
![]() |
'Everything was better in the past' |
"Vroeger was geluk heel gewoon"
![]() |
'Happiness used to be quite common' |
Vroeger kostte een zakje patat een kwartje
![]() |
'In the past, a small bag of French fries [cost] could be had for a quarter' |
Dat deed ik vroeger ook
![]() |
I did that too in the past, I used to do that too |
As I said above,
'Vroeger'
is literally the comparative degree of 'vroeg'
('early.')
Dan moet je vroeger opstaan
![]() |
'Then you'll have to get up earlier' - i.e. you'll have to be more alert and more active |
voorbij
![]() |
'over,' 'past,' 'done with,' "history" |
Het is voorbij
![]() |
'It's over' |
Dan is 't voorbij met de pret
![]() |
'Then the fun is over' (back to normal or worse) |
't Ergste is voorbij
![]() |
The worst is over |
't Is voorgoed voorbij
![]() |
It's over for good, it's once and for all over and done with |
allang
2
3
[already long] 'a long time ago, for a while already'
(The sample lines below all have
about the same meaning: you should have left a while ago but you
were tardy or you were delayed.)
Ik had allang weg moeten zijn
2
3
4
I should (already) have left a while ago
Ik had allang op weg moeten zijn
2
I should have been on my way a while ago
Ik had allang onderweg moeten zijn
2
I should have been on the way a while ago
eerste
![]() |
first |
tweede
![]() |
seccond
ordinal numbers |
laatste
![]() |
last -also: latest |
voorlaatste
![]() |
one before last |
(de) eerste druk
![]() |
(the) first printing, first edition |
op 't eerste gezicht
![]() |
at first sight |
in eerste instantie
![]() |
at first view, initially |
eerste klas
![]() |
first class / first grade |
eerste verdieping
![]() |
second (!) floor |
'begane grond'
![]() |
'first floor' >> |
de mannen van het eerste uur
![]() |
['the men of the first hour'] - the people who started the company, oprganisation or movement |
't eerste waar je aan denkt
![]() |
The first thing you think of |
de eerste vogels
![]() |
the first birds |
de allereerste vogels
![]() |
the very first birds |
op 't laatste moment
![]() |
at the last moment |
de laatste lichting
![]() |
the last mail collection (of the day) |
tot de laatste man
![]() |
to the last man |
de laatste hand leggen aan
![]() |
putting the finishing touch to |
Laatste ronde!
![]() |
Last call! - last round of ordering before closing time |
de laatste kans
![]() |
the last chance ‑>> |
de laatste mode
![]() |
the latest fashion |
't laatste nieuws
![]() |
the latest (most recent) news |
de laatste trein
![]() |
'the last train' (of the day) |
de eerste bus
![]() |
'the first bus' (of the day) |
het laatste oordeel
![]() |
the [last] final judgement |
'de jongste dag'
*
![]() |
the last day |
De morgen van de laatste dag
![]() |
The morning of the last day |
Kunt U mij zeggen wanneer de laatste trein gaat?
2
3
4
'Could you please tell me when
the last train [goes] leaves?
See also: winnen 'to win' and verliezen 'to lose'
vorig
![]() (vorig/vorige ![]() |
previous | volgend
![]() (volgend/volgende ![]() |
next |
volgende week
![]() |
next week |
vorige week
![]() |
last week |
volgend jaar
![]() |
next year |
vorig jaar
![]() |
last year |
de volgende keer
![]() |
the next time |
de vorige keer
![]() |
the previous, last time |
volgende week maandag
![]() |
next week Monday |
vorige week dinsdag
![]() |
Tuesday last week |
de volgende aflevering
![]() |
the next episode |
Wanneer gaat de volgende trein?
![]() |
'When is the next train?' |
Hoe laat gaat de volgende trein?
![]() |
'What time is the next train?' |
De volgende trein gaat om half twaalf
![]() |
'The next train is at 11:30' |
De volgende bus gaat over een halfuur
![]() |
'The next bus is in half an hour' |
Het was vorige maand erg koud
![]() |
Last month it was very cold |
De vorige eigenaar had het huis
roze laten verven
![]() |
The previous owner had had the house painted pink |
Die wet is pas van vorig jaar
![]() |
That law is only from last year |
Volgende week gaat het regenen
![]() |
Next week it is going to rain |
Volgende week ga ik Elly in Edam bloemen geven.
![]() |
Next week in Edam I'll give Elly flowers. |
Vorig jaar zijn we in Duitsland op vakantie geweest.
![]() |
Last year we were on vacation in Germany. |
Volgend jaar gaan we naar Engeland
![]() |
Next year we're going to England |
Dan weet je dat voor de volgende keer
![]() |
[Then you know that ...] - So you can keep that in mind the next time |
Vorige week hebben we ... gezien
![]() |
last week we've seen ... (a movie) |
Vorige week vrijdag was er
een concert van ...
![]() |
Last week Friday there was a concert by ... (a pianist) |
'Volgend'/'volgende:' adjectives usually get an -E ending - more: lesson 11 or smartphone page
In the examples
above, 'first' and 'last' were adjectives.
They can also be adverbs / indications of time. In Dutch they will be
'eerst'
2
and
'laatst'
2 -
Dutch 'laatst' can be seen as the superlative degree of
'laat' and is sometimes translated into English as
'the other day,' not so long ago.
Laat ik dat eerst even doen
![]() |
Let me do that first, before all other things |
Drink eerst even rustig een kopje thee
![]() |
~First, relax and have a cup of tea |
Maak eerst je huiswerk af
![]() |
Finish your homework first, First finish your homework |
Wat 't eerst in je opkomt
![]() |
The first thing you think of, the first thing that comes to mind |
Ik heb 't voor 't laatst bewaard
![]() |
I saved it for last |
Ik heb Jan laatst nog gezien
![]() |
I've seen, met with Jan not so long ago |
Ik had 't er laatst nog over met Jan
![]() |
The other day I was talking about it with Jan |
Wanneer heb je voor het laatst een brief geschreven?
When was the last time you have written a letter?
|
|
één keer per dag
![]() |
'one time a day, once daily' |
twee keer per dag
![]() |
'two times a day, twice daily' |
'n enkele keer
![]() |
'once or twice, very occasionally' |
'n andere keer
![]() |
another time, not now |
het is de vierde keer
![]() |
'it is the fourth time' |
negen van de tien keer
![]() |
9 out of 10 times |
negen op de tien keer
![]() |
9 out of 10 times |
één keer maar
![]() |
just one time, one time only |
maar één keer
![]() |
just one time, one time only |
voor de laatste keer ...
![]() |
'for the last time ...' |
verschillende keren
![]() |
several times, "at different times"
verschillend ![]() |
keer op keer
![]() |
'time after time, time and again' |
nòg een keer
![]() |
one more time, again |
nog één keer
![]() |
just one more time |
't Zal niet de eerste keer zijn
![]() |
'It won't be the first time' |
Dat is twee keer zo ver
![]() |
That's twice as far |
'n keer
![]() |
'sometime' - at some unspecified or unknown time |
Dat gaat 'n keer mis
![]() |
That [goes] will go wrong sometime |
Kom je een keer bij ons eten?
![]() |
'Would you like to come for dinner at our house sometime?' (singular 'you') |
Wil je een keer bij mij komen eten?
![]() |
Would you like to come for dinner at my place sometime? (singular 'you') |
Willen jullie ...?
![]() |
(plural you) |
Ik wil ook nog een keer naar Amerika.
![]() |
I would also like to visit the US sometime. ('America') |
Ik wil nòg een keer naar Jeruzalem
![]() |
I would like to visit Jerusalem again. |
nog eens een keer
![]() |
'Another time' - again, once more |
Dan weet je dat voor de volgende keer
2
3
['Then you know that for the next time']
- 'Keep that in mind the next time'
Het is niet de eerste keer dat me dit overkomt
2
It's not the first time that this happens to me
See also 'Maal'
2
as 'time, times' below
(de) terugkeer
['(the) turn back'] - '(the) return'
(het) keerpunt
'turning point'
(de) ommekeer
2
3
4
'turnaround, turn, change'
(de) afkeer
2
[turn-away from] - 'strong dislike, distaste'
Gedane zaken nemen geen keer
2
3
'What's done is done'
(You can't turn around what's done in the past)
Beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten hele gedwaald
2
'It's better to turn around halfway
than to be wrong all the way'
|
|
Nou en?
![]() |
['Now and?'] - 'So what?' |
Nou begrijp ik 't
![]() | 'Now I understand (it)' |
Nou herinner ik 't me weer
![]() |
'Now I remember (it again)' |
Nou ik toch hier ben ...
![]() |
Now that I'm here anyway ... (let me do something) |
Nou je 't zegt ...
![]() |
Now (that) you say [it] so ... |
Hoe laat is 't nou?
![]() |
'What's the time now (right this moment)?' |
Waarom ben je nu hier?
![]() |
'Why are you here now, at this moment?' |
Wat ik nu pas begrijp ...
![]() |
What I only now understand ... |
Nu ik niet meer rij(d) ...
![]() |
Now that I don't drive anymore, now that I stopped driving ... |
Als je 't nu niet doet, wanneer dan wel?
![]() |
['If you don't do it now, when will you?'] - 'If not now, when?' |
Nou is 't wel mooi geweest
![]() |
['Now that's been pretty'] - 'That will do (stop it!)' |
Nou is 't wel genoeg geweest
![]() |
'Now that's enough, that will do (stop it!)' |
Er is tot nog toe geen beter alternatief
![]() |
There is up till now no better alternative |
't Beste dat er tot nog toe is
![]() |
The best there is up till now |
't Kan elk moment gebeuren
![]() |
It [can] could happen any moment, anytime |
Doe voortaan de deur op slot
![]() |
From now on, lock the door |
't Is voorlopig genoeg
![]() |
For the time being it's enough |
voorlopig nog niet
![]() |
not now and not in the near future |
Voorlopig nog geen Elfstedentocht
![]() |
No 11-cities skating tour in the near future
->>
|
De regen is voorlopig weer voorbij
![]() |
For now the rain has ended, no rain expected in the coming days |
De voorlopige uitslag van de verkiezingen
2
3
4
The preliminary results of the elections
->>
het heden
![]() | the present |
Geef ons heden ons dagelijks brood
![]() |
'Give us this day our daily bread' >> |
hedendaags
![]() |
'of today,' 'modern,' present-day |
hedendaags taalgebruik
![]() |
present-day language use, modern usage, modern-day language |
vandaag
![]() |
today - more usage examples above |
vandaag de dag
![]() |
nowadays |
vandaag of morgen
![]() |
['today or tomorrow'] 'one of these days, someday soon' |
Vandaag eten we vis
![]() |
'Today we'll [eat] have fish' |
tegenwoordig
![]() |
present, current; at present, nowadays |
(de) tegenwoordige tijd
![]() |
(the) present tense ->> |
de jeugd van tegenwoordig
![]() |
'the [youth?] young people of today' |
huidig
![]() ![]() |
present, current |
de huidige omstandigheden
![]() |
the present circumstances, the curent situation |
|
|
meteen na de douche
![]() |
immediately, right after the shower |
direct na de douche
![]() |
immediately, right after the shower |
onmiddelijk na de douche
![]() |
immediately, right after the shower |
Hou er onmiddelijk mee op!
![]() |
'[Now] Stop that right away!' |
Ga meteen je huiswerk maken
![]() |
'Go start with your homework right away' |
Ga direct naar huis
![]() |
'Go home straight away' |
Ik ga er gelijk mee aan de gang
![]() |
I'll start on it right away |
gelijke rechten
![]() |
equal rights ‑>> |
'Met een' with a space means 'with a:'
ik loop met een stok
2
3
zodra
![]() |
as soon as |
zodra we klaar zijn
![]() |
as soon as we're ready, right away when we're ready |
zodra 't licht wordt
![]() |
as soon as it gets light |
(de) aarzeling
hesitation
aarzelen
2
to hesitate
ik aarzel
2
I hesitate
simple present tense | ||
---|---|---|
aarzelen | to hesitate | |
ik aarzel | I hesitate | |
jij aarzelt | you hesitate (singular, informal you) | |
hij aarzelt | he hesitates | |
wij aarzelen | we hesitate | |
jullie aarzelen | you hesitate (plural, informal you) | |
zij aarzelen | they hesitate | |
U aarzelt | you hesitate (polite you) | |
![]() |
But: tegelijk
2
'at the same time'
Ze kwamen tegelijk aan
2
They arrived together, at the same time
Je kunt niet twee dingen tegelijk doen
2
3
4
You can't do two things at the same time
Alles komt tegelijk
2
3
4
[All things coming together] Lamenting a flood of
problems arriving at the same time
|
|
Schiet op!
![]() |
Hurry up! Be quick! |
Ik zal opschieten
![]() |
I'll hurry, I'll be quick |
Er is haast bij
![]() |
It is urgent' |
't Is dringend
![]() | 'It is urgent' |
Er is geen haast bij
![]() |
'there's no need for hurry, there is no rush' |
't Heeft geen haast
![]() | 'there's no need for hurry, there is no rush' |
zo spoedig mogelijk
![]() | 'as soon as possible' |
Voordat je 't weet
![]() |
'Before you know it' - quickly, very soon |
Haastige spoed is zelden goed
![]() |
"Hasty speed is seldom good" - 'Hurry is rarely useful' |
Tot gauw!
![]() |
See you soon! |
Kom gauw!
![]() |
Come quick! |
in de gauwigheid
![]() |
in the rush of things, because I had to act quickly |
Ik kan zo gauw geen voorbeeld bedenken
![]() |
I cannot think of an example [that quickly] right away |
Er zijn binnenkort verkiezingen
![]() |
There will be elections soon >> |
Haast je als je de tijd hebt,
dan heb je de tijd als je haast hebt
- 'Hurry when you have time, then you'll have time when you're
in a hurry' (informal 'you')
Haast U als U de tijd heeft, dan heeft U de tijd als U haast heeft
- 'Hurry when you have time, then you'll have time when you're
in a hurry'(polite 'you')
'Haast'
can also be an adverb meaning 'almost, nearly' - see also:
Disambiguation: 'Haast'
Je zou haast denken ...
![]() |
You would almost think ... |
|
|
rijden to drive and to ride |
- | ik rijd I drive/ride |
- | wij rijden we drive/ride |
- | ik reed I drove/rode |
- | wij reden we drove/rode |
- | ik heb gereden / ik ben gereden
I have driven/ridden >> |
![]() |
30 (dertig) kilometer per uur
![]() |
30 kilometers an hour |
hard rijden
![]() |
to drive or ride fast |
Ik rijd te hard
![]() |
I'm driving too fast |
Je reed te langzaam
![]() |
You were driving too slow |
Ik loop langzaam
![]() |
I walk slowly |
Ik reed heel langzaam naar huis
![]() |
I drove/rode home very slowly |
Hij kan erg hard fietsen
![]() |
[He can ride a bike very fast] - He's a fast bike rider |
Ik gaf haar snel een knipoogje
![]() |
I [quickly gave her a wink] winked at her quickly |
Hij vertelde ons snel een paar mopjes
![]() |
He quickly told us a few jokes |
Hij berekende snel het verschil
![]() |
He quickly calculated what the difference was |
Hij deed 't werk snel
![]() |
He quickly did the work, he finished the job quickly |
't Ging zo snel
![]() |
It happened so quickly |
Ik had vertraging
![]() |
'I was late' (there was a delay) |
Van uitstel komt afstel
![]() | 'Postponement leads to cancellation' |
Langzaam maar zeker
![]() |
Slowly but steadily, slow but sure |
See also: Disambiguation: Haast - Traffic and Transportation and Travel
'Tragisch'
2
(tragische
tragisch / tragische
2)
means 'tragical' - it is not a variation of
'traag'
2
('slow, sluggish, languid') above.
(de) tragedie
2
3
tragedy
|
|
uit de tijd
![]() |
['out of the time, not in our time'] - not of our time, old-fashioned |
uit de mode
![]() |
['out of fashion'] - not according to the latest fashion |
uit de oude doos
![]() |
['from the old box'] - something of/from the past ->> |
Dat is zo ouderwets!
![]() |
'That is so old-fashioned!' |
We hadden ouderwets plezier
![]() |
We had (good) old-fashioned fun, we had fun like in the old days (looking back to when we thought things were less bleak and complicated) |
Je moet met je tijd meegaan
![]() |
You should [go along with] adapt to the (changing) times |
![]() |
![]() |
de toekomst
![]() |
the future |
in de toekomst
![]() |
in the future |
morgen
![]() |
tomorrow - see usage examples above |
Alsof er geen toekomst is
![]() |
As if there is no future, no tomorrow |
Zonder aan de toekomst te denken
![]() |
Without thinking of the future, 'As if there is no tomorrow' |
een dezer dagen
![]() |
one of these days, someday soon |
in de komende jaren
![]() |
in years to come |
de toekomst voorspellen
![]() |
predicting the future - >> |
Een blik in de toekomst
![]() |
A look into the future |
de verre toekomst en de nabije toekomst
![]() |
'the far future and the near future' |
een onzekere toekomst tegemoet
![]() |
'towards an uncertain future' |
Wat had kunnen zijn
![]() |
What could have been |
de toekomende tijd
![]() |
the future tense ->> |
(de) belofte
![]() |
promise |
loze beloften
![]() |
worthless, empty promises |
beloven
![]() |
to promise |
veelbelovend
![]() |
[much-] promising, 'having potential' |
beterschap beloven
![]() |
to promise [improvement] better behavior |
Ik herinnerde hem aan z'n belofte
![]() |
I reminded him [of? about? his promise] that he'd made a promise |
beloven to promise | - | ik beloof I promise | - | wij beloven we promise | - | ik beloofde I promised | - | wij beloofden we promised | - | ik heb beloofd
I have promised |
![]() |
Dutch voorbereiden
2
('to prepare')
and (de) voorbereiding
2
('preparation') refer to preparing for a future event. English
'to prepare' in the sense of 'to make, to create' is
maken
>>
or for food, a bit old-fashioned: bereiden
2
goed voorbereid
![]() |
well-prepared (for future events) |
Op alles voorbereid
![]() |
prepared for anything |
Op het ergste voorbereid
![]() |
prepared for the worst |
(de) voorzorgsmaatregelen
![]() |
precautions - Emergency Preparedness |
de toekomende tijd
![]() |
The Future Tense |
---|
The future tense uses the auxiliary verb
'zullen'
with a verb inifinive, for example:
ik zal schrijven
2
"I'll write" -
more
and mail
Ik zal opschieten
![]() |
I'll hurry, I'll try to be quick |
We zullen wel zien
![]() |
We'll see |
Zullen we gaan zwemmen?
![]() |
Shall we go [swimming] for a swim? |
Zullen we naar de film gaan?
![]() |
Shall we go [to the movie] see a movie? |
't Zal wel meevallen
![]() |
It will not be as bad as could be |
't Lachen zal je vergaan
![]() |
[~Your laughter will die] - You will not be laughing then |
't Zal niet meer gebeuren
![]() |
It will not happen again (promising better behavior) |
Ik zal 't niet vergeten
![]() |
I will not (won't) forget it |
Je zult er geen spijt van krijgen
![]() |
You will not (won't) regret it |
't Zal niet gemakkelijk zijn
![]() |
It [will] is not going to be easy |
Wie zal dat betalen?
![]() | Who's going to pay for that? |
|
|
ik heb gewacht
![]() | I have waited |
(de) wachtkamer
![]() |
waiting room |
(de) wachttijd
![]() |
waiting time |
Wacht!
![]() |
Wait! |
Wacht even
![]() |
Wait a moment! |
Wacht eens even ...
![]() |
Now wait a moment ... |
Moest je lang wachten?
![]() |
Did you have to wait for a long time? |
Laten we tot morgen wachten
![]() |
Let's wait till tomorrow |
We staan te wachten op een taxi
![]() |
We're waiting for a taxi - >> |
Ik zat te wachten op een telefoontje
![]() |
I was waiting for a phone call |
Ik zat te wachten op ...
![]() |
I was waiting for ... |
Waar wacht je op?
![]() |
What are you waiting for? (Often meaning: Take action!) |
The Dutch verb 'waken'
2
3
means 'to stay awake' or 'to watch over,' like in
(de) bewaker
2
('guard, minder') and a word we've seen before:
(de) nachtwaker
2
3
('night watchman')
waakzaam
2
3
4
('vigilant, alert')
(de) waakhond
2
('guard dog')
Related words are
(de) wake
2
3
('wake, vigil') and wakker
('awake.')
'Wacht'
can mean 'wait!' but in compound words it often means something
like 'guard.' I guess that
'wachten' originally also meant something like 'to guard, to
watch over' or 'to watch out for.' On gates or fences you may see the
somewhat humorous warning:
Wacht U voor de(n) hond
![]() |
Watch out for the dog |
|
|
|
|
Geduld is een schone zaak
![]() |
Patience is a beautiful thing, patience is a virtue |
Hij wachtte geduldig op z'n beurt
![]() |
He was waiting patiently for his turn - your 'turn' in games |
The card game of solitaire
has a French name in Dutch:
patience
2
3 a
False Friend
A doctor's 'patient' is '(de) patiënt'
2
in Dutch
verwachten
2
to expect
verwachten to expect | - | ik verwacht I expect | - | wij verwachten we expect | - | ik verwachtte I expected | - | wij verwachtten
we expected | - | ik heb verwacht
I have expected |
![]() |
The perfect past tense is also often found:
ik had verwacht
2
I had expected
|
|
(de) onverwachte wending
![]() |
unexpected turn of events (often in fiction or in a narrative) - or- unexpected development |
een onverwachte tegenvaller
![]() |
an unexpected disappointing development |
geheel onverwacht
![]() |
completely unexpected, out of the blue |
De verwachte groei bleef uit
![]() |
The expected expansion didn't happen |
Ik verwacht een telefoontje
![]() |
I'm expecting a ('little') phone call |
Dat had ik niet verwacht
![]() |
I had not expected that |
Ik verwacht er niet veel van
![]() |
I don't expect much of it, I don't have high expectations of it, I'm not getting my hopes up |
Ik had meer verwacht
![]() |
I had expected more |
Ik had er meer van verwacht
![]() |
I had expected more of it, I had expected better results of it |
Dat werd verwacht
![]() |
That was expected |
Werd dat verwacht?
![]() |
Was that expected? |
Dat was te verwachten
![]() |
That was to be expected |
Zoals je zou verwachten
![]() |
As you would expect, as expected |
Niet zoals je zou verwachten
![]() |
Not as you would expect, not as expected |
Niet wat je zou verwachten
![]() |
Not what you would expect |
Wie had dat verwacht?
![]() |
Who had expected that? - Nobody. It is/was completely unexpected |
Wie had dat gedacht?
![]() |
Who'd have thought? (Something unexpected comes to light) |
Wat is de weersverwachting?
![]() |
What is the weather forecast? |
de verwachtingen overtreffen
![]() |
to [exceed] beat expectations |
geen hoge verwachtingen
![]() |
no [high] great expectations |
Dat staat ons ook te wachten
![]() |
[That's waiting for us too] We can also expect that |
voorspellen
![]() |
to predict | voorspelbaar
![]() |
predictable |
de toekomst voorspellen
![]() |
to predict the future ->> |
't Is zo voorspelbaar wat-ie doet
![]() |
[It is so predictable what he does] His behavior is so predictable |
'Plotseling'
and 'opeens'
2
are adverbs meaning 'suddenly' ('plotseling' can also be an
adjective, 'sudden.')
'Opeens' indicates a sudden, unexpected change, while the
radical change of 'plotseling' does not have to be unexpected.
Opeens werd 't stil
![]() |
Suddenly it became quiet |
Er was opeens geen geld meer
![]() |
[Suddenly there was no more money] - The money ran out suddenly |
Hij begon opeens te huilen
![]() |
Suddenly he started crying |
't Weer sloeg plotseling om
![]() |
The weather suddenly [turned around] changed |
een plotselinge weersverandering
![]() |
a sudden change of the weather |
van de ene dag op de andere
![]() |
[from, between one day to the [other] next] - suddenly, unexpectedly |
de lange les
![]() |
the long lesson |
de lange vraag
![]() |
the long question |
het korte antwoord
![]() |
the short answer |
kort samengevat ...
![]() |
[short summarization] - in short ... |
lang geleden
![]() |
long ago |
binnenkort
![]() |
[within short] soon, shortly |
lange-termijnplanning
![]() |
long-term planning ('planning' - Dutch uses the English word) |
drie dagen lang
![]() |
3 days long |
drie lange dagen
![]() |
3 long days - >> |
Hij is nooit lang boos
![]() |
He's never angry for long |
een korte vreugde
![]() |
a short pleasure, just a short moment of enjoyment |
zo lang mogelijk
![]() |
as long as possible |
't Is lang licht
![]() |
[It's light for a long time] - it's still light late in the evening |
't Gaat te lang door
![]() |
It goes on (for) too long |
Ik heb een lang gesprek met m'n baas gehad
![]() |
I had a long talk with my boss |
Lang nadat we verhuisd waren
![]() |
Long after we had moved away |
We wonen nog maar kort hier
![]() |
We've only lived here for a short time |
lang na de oorlog
![]() |
long after the war |
Lang nadat de oorlog was afgelopen
![]() |
Long after the war had ended |
kort voor de voorstelling
![]() |
shortly before the performance |
Kort voordat de voorstelling begon
![]() |
Shortly before the performance started |
Hij dacht er niet lang over na
![]() |
He didn't think long about it |
Hij is lang van stof
![]() |
[~'He talks at great length'] 'His talking drags on and on' |
Like in English, 'lang'
2
3
('long') and
'kort'
2
3 ('short') are not only
about length of time but about length in general, not only a
measure of time but also about the other
dimensions:
korte mouwen
![]() |
'short sleeves' |
(de) korte broek
![]() |
'short pants, shorts' |
het korte haar
![]() |
'the short hair' |
Hoe lang ben je?
![]() |
'How tall are you?' |
(de) lange kant
![]() |
(the) long side
of a rectangular item |
(de) korte kant
![]() |
(the) short side |
duren to last | - | 't duurt it lasts | - | 't duurde it lasted | - | 't heeft geduurd it has lasted |
![]() |
langdurig
![]() |
'long-lasting' |
voortdurend
![]() |
'continuing' |
(de) tijdsduur
![]() |
duration, length of time |
op den duur
2
in the long run
- 'den'
is an old-fashioned declined article,
sometimes found in standard expressions
Hoe lang duurt 't?
![]() |
How long is it going to take? |
Hoe lang zal 't duren?
![]() |
How long will it take? |
Het duurt lang
![]() |
It takes a lot of time |
't Duurt te lang
![]() |
It takes too long |
't Duurde maar tien minuten
![]() |
It only lasted for 10 minutes |
Dat duurt nog wel even
![]() |
That's (still) going to take a while |
't Duurt zeker nog een uur
![]() |
It will take an hour for sure |
Waarom duurt 't zo lang?
![]() |
Why does it take so long? |
Als 't tegenzit
kan 't nog wel een week
duren
![]() |
If it doesn't go well it may take a week |
Dat duurt nog wel even
![]() |
[That's] It's going to take a while |
Op den duur wordt 't makkelijker
![]() |
[After a while, (with practice)] - In time it gets easier |
'Duur'
(duur / dure
2) can also mean
'expensive' - duurder
('more expensive')
een duur restaurant
![]() |
an expensive restaurant |
een dure hobby
![]() |
an expensive pastime |
Hoe duur is het?
![]() |
[How expensive is it?] What's the price? |
Het is te duur
![]() |
It's too expensive |
Is het duurder geworden?
![]() |
[Did it become more expensive?] - Did the price go up? |
Wij zwoeren een dure eed
![]() |
We swore a [serious] solemn oath |
Hoe lang?
![]() |
How long? |
zo lang mogelijk
![]() |
as long as possible |
Hoe lang zal 't duren?
![]() |
How long will it take? (a question or comment on a hypothetical situation or with doubts about the outcome) |
Hoe lang duurt 't?
![]() |
[How long] How much time will it take? (a procedure already decided on) |
Hoe lang nog?
![]() |
[How long still?] How much longer? |
Niet te lang uitslapen
![]() |
Don't sleep in, don't stay in bed too long (a resolution or a recomendation) |
Hoe lang nog voor we weer een overstroming krijgen?
2
[How long still before we get again a flood?] -
How much longer till there's another flood?
Note that Dutch does not use a preposition like English 'for' in statements of duration. See also: Common Problems with Dutch
Ik zat een uur bij de tandarts
![]() |
I [sat] was at the dentist for an hour |
Ik was drie dagen ziek
![]() |
I was sick for 3 days |
Ze bleven een week in Delft
![]() |
They stayed in Delft for a week |
Ik heb een paar jaar pianoles gehad
![]() |
I've had piano lessons for a few years |
Ze zijn al twintig jaar samen
![]() |
They've been together for 20 years already |
Only in the somewhat unusual statements when time is used as a measurement of physical quantity a preposition like 'for' is used:
Er is voor drie dagen eten
![]() |
There is food for three days (three days' worth of food) |
minstens
![]() |
at least | hoogstens
![]() |
at most | |
minder
![]() |
less | meer
![]() |
more - more |
bijna
![]() |
almost |
tijdelijk
![]() |
temporary, not permanent |
't Is hoogstens een uur werk
![]() |
It's an hour's work at most |
't Kost minstens twee weken
![]() |
It will take at least two weeks |
tenminste houdbaar tot
![]() |
["can be kept at least till ..."] - 'good till at least / best before / sell by ...' (remember that in Dutch dates, the day comes before the month) |
't Kostte maar vijf minuten
![]() |
It only took 5 minutes |
't Duurt zeker nog een uur
![]() |
It will [certainly take] take an hour for sure |
meer dan drie uur
![]() |
More than 3 hours |
Ik ben over een uur weer thuis
![]() |
I'll be back home in an hour >> |
binnen een uur
![]() |
within an hour |
Het is bijna klaar
![]() |
It's almost ready |
ruim een week
![]() |
[roughly] a little more than a week |
tijdelijke baan
![]() |
temporary job - more jobs vocabulary |
The Dutch noun '(de) kosten'
means 'the cost' - a price in money, energy or other
valuables, material or immaterial. The noun 'kosten' is a
plural.
The verb 'kosten' can mean the time it takes, or state a
price in valuables already paid or still to be paid.
The Dutch word
'kost'
2
is a form of that verb 'kosten' but it's also is an old-fashioned
word for 'food.'
kostbaar
![]() |
valuable, precious |
onbetaalbaar
![]() |
[impossible be paid for] - priceless |
Hoeveel kost dit?
![]() |
[How much does this cost?] What's the price? |
Al kost 't duizend gulden
![]() |
Even if the cost is a thousand guilders |
Al kost 't me jaren
![]() |
Even if it takes me years |
Hollandse kost
![]() |
traditional Dutch food |
|
|
ik ben gebleven
![]() |
~I have stayed |
(de) blijvende schade
![]() |
'lasting, permanent damage' |
(het) verblijf
![]() |
1. 'stay' 2. 'residence, place to stay' |
(het) kinderdagverblijf
![]() |
'children's daycare center, crèche' |
(de) verblijfsvergunning
![]() |
'residency permit' |
(de) vaste aanstelling
![]() |
permanent job, 'tenure' >> |
Ik blijf thuis
![]() |
I'm staying home |
Alles blijft veranderen
![]() |
Everything keeps changing |
't Blijft vervelend
![]() |
It remains unpleasant, it's still unpleasant |
Probeer wakker te blijven
![]() |
Try to stay awake |
Wil je blijven eten?
![]() |
Would you like to stay for [food] dinner/lunch? |
Je kunt wel blijven eten
![]() |
You may stay for [food] dinner/lunch |
Kom je binnen of wil je buiten blijven?
![]() |
Are you coming in or would you like to stay outside? |
Ze bleven een week in Delft
![]() |
They stayed in Delft for a week |
Ik ben de hele dag binnen gebleven
![]() |
I stayed inside all day |
'Wie schrijft die blijft'
![]() |
"He who writes stays" (the person keeping score will remain in the game) |
Ik blijf 't proberen
![]() |
I keep trying (it) |
't Water blijft stijgen
![]() |
The water keeps rising |
't Water blijft maar stijgen
![]() |
The water just keeps rising |
't Blijft regenen
![]() |
It will keep raining |
't Blijft maar regenen
![]() |
It just keeps raining |
't Blijft de hele week regenen
![]() |
It [keeps] is going to rain all week |
't Blijft tobben
![]() |
'We keep plodding on, trouble never lets up' |
Je kunt nog even blijven liggen
![]() |
You [can] may remain in bed a little longer |
(de) vergane glorie
![]() |
faded glory |
(het) achterstallig onderhoud
![]() |
overdue maintenance |
het naderend onheil
![]() |
the approaching doom, the imminent disaster |
goed uitkomen
![]() |
to 'suit,' fit schedule |
't Komt slecht uit
![]() |
It's not a good time, it doesn't suit me |
't Komt niet goed uit
![]() |
It's not a good time, it doesn't suit me |
Kan ik de afspraak verzetten?
![]() |
Could I [move, change] reschedule the appointment? |
2x3=6 (twee keer drie is zes)
![]() |
two times three equals six |
In a more scientific setting
with large numbers
or in secondary school, 'times' is
usually said in Dutch as maal
2 (which can
also mean 'meal' - short for (de) maaltijd
)
2x3=6 (twee maal drie is zes)
![]() |
two times three equals six |
6x7=42 (zes maal zeven is tweeënveertig)
![]() |
six times seven equals forty-two |
'Maal'
2
as 'time, times' is also found
in a few sayings and standard phrases:
Drie maal is scheepsrecht
![]() |
['three times is naval law'] - 'third time is the charm' - nonsense remark about things happening three times |
... éénmaal ...
andermaal ... verkocht!
![]() |
['one time ... another time ... sold!'] - 'going once ... going twice ... sold!' (what an auctioneer says) |
You'd think eenmaal
2
3 would mean
'once - one time,' but usually it means 'once - as soon as,'
when a point is reached
Als 't eenmaal kookt
![]() |
Once it's boiling, as soon as it is boiling |
Als 't eenmaal zo ver is
![]() |
Once it has reached that point, when it's at that stage |
See also: | Disambiguation: 'Eens' |
More Calculations and Simple Math: Vocabulary: Numbers - Lesson 8 - Smartphone page
drie kwartier
![]() |
'[3 quarters] 45 minutes' |
vier uur
![]() |
'4 hours' |
vijf jaar
![]() |
'5 years' |
Other Dutch 'time' units are always used in the plural when the number is more than 1.
(de) dag / dagen
![]() |
'day/days' |
(de) week
![]() ![]() |
'week/weeks' |
maand
![]() ![]() |
'month/months' |
minuut
![]() ![]() |
'minute/minutes' |
seconde
![]() ![]() |
'second/seconds' (1/60th of a minute) |
zes dagen
![]() |
'6 days' |
vele dagen
![]() |
'many days' |
twee weken
![]() |
'2 weeks' |
drie maanden
![]() |
3 months |
vijf minuten
![]() |
'5 minutes' |
drie seconden
![]() |
'3 seconds' |
(drie seconden
![]() |
'3 seconds') |
(de) lente
'Spring'
twintig lentes jong
2
'twenty springtimes young'
(said by slimeballs about young women)
When the statement is purely about the amount, the measurement (usually with a number) many (but not all) units of measurement are used in the singular:
twee jaar van m'n leven
![]() |
'2 years of my life' |
vier uur per dag
![]() |
'4 hours a day' |
dertig kilometer per uur
![]() |
'30 kilometers an hour' |
twee gulden per stuk
![]() |
'2 guilders each, 2 guilders for each item' |
tien minuten per uur
![]() |
'10 minutes each hour' |
But when the statement is about the units of measurement themselves (and it's about more than one) they are used in the plural form:
drie jaar geleden
![]() |
'three years ago' |
drie jaar lang
![]() |
'for three years' |
drie lange jaren
![]() |
'three long years' |
drie dagen geleden
![]() |
'three days ago' |
drie dagen lang
![]() |
'for three days' |
drie lange dagen
![]() |
'three long days' |
English still has this unexpected use of the singular on a smaller scale,
in phrases like 'twenty-dollar bill' or 'nine-pound hammer' - when
used as an adjective?
More
-
Metric and Imperial Units of
Measurement Compared
(de) tegenwoordige tijd
![]() |
'(the) present tense' |
(de) verleden tijd
![]() |
'(the) past tense' |
(de) voltooide tijd
![]() |
'(the) perfect tense' |
(het) voltooid deelwoord
![]() |
'past participle' |
de toekomende tijd
![]() |
'the future tense' |
- or with more precision (and examples)
onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd
![]() |
['unfinished present time'] 'simple (imperfect) present tense' >> |
(ott
![]() |
|
ik heb
![]() |
I have >> |
ik ben
![]() |
I am >> |
onvoltooid verleden tijd
![]() |
['unfinished past time'] 'simple (imperfect) past tense' ->> |
(ovt
![]() |
|
ik had
![]() |
I had ->> |
ik was
![]() |
I was |
voltooid tegenwoordige tijd
![]() |
['finished present time'] 'perfect present tense' ->> |
(vtt
![]() |
|
ik heb gehad
![]() |
I have had |
ik ben geweest
![]() |
I have been |
voltooid verleden tijd
![]() |
['finished past time'] 'perfect past tense' |
(vvt
![]() |
|
ik had gehad
![]() |
I had had |
ik was geweest
![]() |
I had been |
Verbs General -
The Complete Conjugation of About 60 Dutch
Verbs
- Smartphone Verbs Pages
nawoord
![]() |
afterword |
nasmaak
![]() |
aftertaste |
Ik heb meer tijd nodig
![]() |
I need more time (to finish) |
More Pages like this: Life - Change
More Phrases:
The Most Basic Phrases -
Weather
- Food and Drink
- Travel
- Sleep
- Various
- Fun Things to Say
- The Senses
- Jobs and Lines of Work
- Speaking Dutch, Speaking about Dutch
- Sayings and Idiom
Further Study: Basic Dutch Words - Pictures Dictionary - Easy Dutch - Lessons - Pronunciation - Listening - Reading - Grammar
email -
Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2014.
All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed,
or hotlinked to.
Don't be a
dief (thief) /
dievegge (female thief) -
diefstal (theft) -
stelen (to steal) -
heler (dealer in stolen goods) -
hear Dutch -
2
Gij zult niet stelen
'Thou shalt not steal'