# Numbers, times, dates and prices in spoken Dutch

URL: https://www.inburgeringklaar.nl/learn/luisteren/numbers-times-dates-prices
Course: Luisteren: the listening exam, step by step (https://www.inburgeringklaar.nl/learn/luisteren)
Level: A2 and B1
Publisher: Inburgeringklaar

> Hear Dutch clock times, numbers, dates, prices and spelled names correctly the first time.

## Goals
- 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 drie**: half past two (2:30)
- **kwart over vier**: quarter past four
- **tien voor half zes**: twenty past five (5:20)
- **'s middags**: in the afternoon
- **overmorgen**: the day after tomorrow
- **eind mei**: the end of May
- **een tientje**: a ten-euro note, €10
- **per stuk**: each
- **de helft**: half
- **met een lange ij**: with 'ij' (when spelling)
- **het huisnummer**: the house number
- **de postcode**: the postcode

## Worked example: A changed appointment

Vraag: Hoe laat is de nieuwe afspraak?
A 9.30 uur
B 10.30 uur
C 10.40 uur

(Fragment, voicemail)
"Goedemorgen meneer Haddad, met de assistente van tandartspraktijk Zuid. U heeft donderdag een afspraak om half tien. Helaas is de tandarts dan niet aanwezig. Kunt u dezelfde dag om tien over half elf komen? Belt u even terug als dat niet lukt? Dank u wel."

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
1. What time is 'half negen'?
   A) 8:30
   B) 9:30
   C) 9:00
   Answer: A. 'Half negen' is half way to nine: 8:30.
2. What number is 'zesendertig'?
   A) 63
   B) 36
   C) 16
   Answer: B. Units first: zes (6) en dertig (30) = 36.
3. What time is 'vijf over half drie'?
   A) 3:05
   B) 2:25
   C) 2:35
   Answer: C. Half drie = 2:30, plus five minutes = 2:35.