Numbers, times, dates and prices in spoken Dutch
Hear Dutch clock times, numbers, dates, prices and spelled names correctly the first time.
A2 and B111 minLesson 3 of 6
After this lesson you can
- Understand Dutch clock times like 'tien voor half vier'
- Hear numbers above twenty in the Dutch order
- Catch dates, prices and phone numbers
- Follow a name or address spelled aloud
Why numbers are hard
Numbers are short, fast and easy to mix up, and exam questions love them: Hoe laat? Hoeveel? Welke datum? Welk huisnummer? Dutch adds two extra challenges: clock times that work around half, and numbers that say the units first.
Clock times: think in "half"
In Dutch, half drie means half to three = 2:30, not 3:30. Everything after quarter past is counted toward the half hour.
| Time | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 2:00 | twee uur |
| 2:05 | vijf over twee |
| 2:10 | tien over twee |
| 2:15 | kwart over twee |
| 2:20 | tien voor half drie |
| 2:25 | vijf voor half drie |
| 2:30 | half drie |
| 2:35 | vijf over half drie |
| 2:40 | tien over half drie |
| 2:45 | kwart voor drie |
| 2:50 | tien voor drie |
Tip: when you hear half, immediately think "the hour before that number". Half acht = 7:30.
In announcements, timetables and formal speech you often hear the 24-hour clock: veertien uur dertig (14:30), om negen uur vijftien (9:15). Also: 's ochtends (in the morning), 's middags (in the afternoon), 's avonds (in the evening).
Numbers: units first
From 21 to 99, Dutch says the unit first, then en, then the ten:
- 21 = eenentwintig (one-and-twenty)
- 47 = zevenenveertig
- 85 = vijfentachtig
Write the second digit first when you hear it, then the first: zevenenveertig → __7 → 47.
Watch these pairs, they sound alike when spoken fast:
| dertien (13) | dertig (30) |
| veertien (14) | veertig (40) |
| zeventien (17) | zeventig (70) |
| negentien (19) | negentig (90) |
Listen for the ending: -tien (teen) vs -tig (ty).
Big numbers and years: honderdvijftig (150), tweeduizend (2000), tweeduizend zesentwintig (2026). Older years: negentienachtennegentig (1998).
Dates
- maandag tien maart or maandag de tiende (Monday the tenth)
- de eerste (1st), de tweede (2nd), de derde (3rd), de achtste (8th), de twintigste (20th)
- begin april (early April), eind mei (end of May), halverwege juni (mid-June)
- over twee weken (in two weeks), vorige week (last week), overmorgen (the day after tomorrow), eergisteren (the day before yesterday)
Prices
- €3,50 = drie euro vijftig
- €0,75 = vijfenzeventig cent
- €12,95 = twaalf euro vijfennegentig
- een tientje = €10, een tientje of twee = about €20, een paar euro = a few euros
- de helft (half), gratis (free), korting (discount), per stuk (each)
Exam fragments often give two or three prices: the normal price, the discount, the price for members. Listen for whose price it is.
Phone numbers
Dutch speakers usually say phone numbers in single digits or in pairs: zes – twaalf – vierendertig – zesenvijftig. When you hear pairs, the units-first rule applies again.
Spelling aloud
Names and postcodes are often spelled. Some Dutch letter names surprise English speakers:
| Letter | Sounds like |
|---|---|
| a | "ah" |
| e | "ay" |
| i | "ee" |
| g | a throaty "khay" |
| j | "yay" |
| v | "vay" |
| w | "way" |
| ij | "lange ij" ("ay") |
| y | "ypsilon" or "i-grec" |
Postcodes are often said as two pairs of numbers and two letters: 1234 AB = twaalf vierendertig A B.
Useful Dutch
- half driehalf past two (2:30)
- kwart over vierquarter past four
- tien voor half zestwenty past five (5:20)
- 's middagsin the afternoon
- overmorgenthe day after tomorrow
- eind meithe end of May
- een tientjea ten-euro note, €10
- per stukeach
- de helfthalf
- met een lange ijwith 'ij' (when spelling)
- het huisnummerthe house number
- de postcodethe postcode
Worked example
A changed appointment
You hear two times, so listen for which one is new. 'Half tien' is the old appointment: 9:30 (half → the hour before ten). That is option A, the trap. The new time is 'tien over half elf': half elf = 10:30, plus ten minutes = 10:40. Answer: C. Option B is the trap for people who only catch 'half elf'.
Common mistakes
- Hearing 'half vier' and writing 4:30 instead of 3:30.
- Writing the digits of 'achtenvijftig' in the order you hear them (85 instead of 58).
- Confusing 'veertien' (14) and 'veertig' (40) when speech is fast.
- Choosing the first time or price mentioned when the fragment gives a second, changed one.
Check yourself
Answer all three to mark this lesson as done.
1. What time is 'half negen'?
2. What number is 'zesendertig'?
3. What time is 'vijf over half drie'?