Bedeutung
Noting that the hour is advanced.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Dutch people are very protective of their sleep and their morning routines. Saying 'Het is al laat' at 10:30 PM on a Tuesday is a respected boundary. In Flanders, social evenings might go slightly later than in the northern Netherlands, but the phrase remains the primary way to signal the end of a 'gezellige' evening. Overtime is not as common as in the US or Japan. Using this phrase at 5:30 PM (jokingly) or 7:00 PM (seriously) is a way to signal that work is over. Among students, 'laat' might not start until 2:00 AM. The definition of 'laat' is subjective to the social group.
The 'Al' Factor
Always include 'al' if you want to sound natural. Just saying 'Het is laat' sounds like a robot reading a clock.
Don't say 'Ik ben al laat'
Unless you are running behind for an appointment, this is the most common beginner mistake.
Bedeutung
Noting that the hour is advanced.
The 'Al' Factor
Always include 'al' if you want to sound natural. Just saying 'Het is laat' sounds like a robot reading a clock.
Don't say 'Ik ben al laat'
Unless you are running behind for an appointment, this is the most common beginner mistake.
The Dutch Exit
Slap your thighs with both hands, stand up, and say 'Zo, het is al laat.' This is the universal Dutch signal for 'I am leaving now.'
Gezelligheid vs. Time
If someone says 'Het is al laat' to you, don't take it personally. They aren't bored; they just value their sleep!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the phrase.
Het is ___ laat, ik moet gaan.
'Al' is the Dutch word for 'already' in this context.
Which sentence is the correct way to say 'It is already late'?
Select the correct Dutch sentence:
'Het is al laat' uses the dummy subject 'het' and the verb 'zijn'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: Wil je nog een kopje koffie? B: Nee bedankt, ___.
This is the most polite and common way to decline a drink late at night.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When would you say 'Het is al laat'?
The phrase describes the time of day, not your own tardiness.
Match the Dutch phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
These are the standard translations for these time-related expressions.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Het is laat vs. Ik ben laat
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenHet is ___ laat, ik moet gaan.
'Al' is the Dutch word for 'already' in this context.
Select the correct Dutch sentence:
'Het is al laat' uses the dummy subject 'het' and the verb 'zijn'.
A: Wil je nog een kopje koffie? B: Nee bedankt, ___.
This is the most polite and common way to decline a drink late at night.
When would you say 'Het is al laat'?
The phrase describes the time of day, not your own tardiness.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the standard translations for these time-related expressions.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenTechnically yes, but it sounds very old-fashioned. Stick to 'al'.
'Is' means it is already late. 'Wordt' means it is in the process of becoming late.
No, it is actually considered polite in Dutch culture to acknowledge the time so the host can rest.
You say: 'Het is nog niet zo laat.'
It is a 'dummy subject' used for impersonal expressions like time and weather.
No, 'laat' only refers to the end of the day. For the morning, you would say 'Het is al laat' only if you meant you are late for something, but even then it's better to say 'Het is al laat in de ochtend'.
In this context, yes. In other contexts, it can mean 'all'.
Het is nog vroeg (It is still early).
No, that sounds like a literal translation from another language. Dutch uses 'Het is...'
Yes, it is perfectly standard in Flemish Dutch.
Add 'wel': 'Het is wel al héél laat!'
Yes, if you are explaining why you are finishing for the day or why a reply took a while.
Use 'Het wordt al laat'.
It is an adjective acting as a predicate.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Te laat
similarToo late / Tardy
Op tijd
contrastOn time
Het wordt laat
builds onIt is getting late
Bijtijds
contrastIn good time / Early
Nachtbraker
specialized formNight owl
De tijd vliegt
similarTime flies
