Bedeutung
Taking a rest period.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'koffieautomaat' (coffee machine) is the social hub. Saying 'Tijd voor pauze' is often an invitation to walk to the machine together. Similar to the Netherlands, but 'pauze' might be slightly more formal; 'even rusten' or 'een break' are also very common. Breaks are often strictly timed. If a meeting says '10:30-10:45 pauze', people will expect to start exactly at 10:45. Children have 'speelkwartier' (play quarter-hour). Teachers use 'Tijd voor pauze' to signal the start of this period.
The 'Even' Trick
Add 'even' (even tijd voor pauze) to sound much more like a native speaker. It softens the statement.
Don't say 'Maken'
Never say 'Ik maak een pauze'. It's a classic English-speaker mistake. Use 'houden' or just 'Het is tijd voor...'
Bedeutung
Taking a rest period.
The 'Even' Trick
Add 'even' (even tijd voor pauze) to sound much more like a native speaker. It softens the statement.
Don't say 'Maken'
Never say 'Ik maak een pauze'. It's a classic English-speaker mistake. Use 'houden' or just 'Het is tijd voor...'
The Lunch Walk
If someone says 'Tijd voor pauze', be prepared to go for a walk outside, even if it's raining!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing preposition.
Het is tijd ___ pauze.
In Dutch, we always say 'tijd voor' when indicating it's time for a specific activity or noun.
Which sentence is the most natural way to announce a break to colleagues?
How do you say 'Time for a break'?
'Tijd voor pauze!' is the standard idiomatic expression.
Complete the dialogue.
A: We werken al de hele ochtend. B: Je hebt gelijk. ___?
Contextually, after working all morning, a break is the logical suggestion.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match 'Tijd voor pauze' with the best context.
A break (pauze) is a temporary stop in an ongoing activity like a meeting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Types of Dutch Breaks
Food/Drink
- • Koffiepauze
- • Lunchpauze
- • Theepauze
Activity
- • Lunchwandeling
- • Rookpauze
- • Plaspauze
School
- • Speelkwartier
- • Grote pauze
- • Tussenuren
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHet is tijd ___ pauze.
In Dutch, we always say 'tijd voor' when indicating it's time for a specific activity or noun.
How do you say 'Time for a break'?
'Tijd voor pauze!' is the standard idiomatic expression.
A: We werken al de hele ochtend. B: Je hebt gelijk. ___?
Contextually, after working all morning, a break is the logical suggestion.
Match 'Tijd voor pauze' with the best context.
A break (pauze) is a temporary stop in an ongoing activity like a meeting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, adding 'een' is grammatically correct and very common. 'Tijd voor pauze' is just a shorter, more idiomatic version.
It is a 'de-word' (de pauze), and in Dutch, most de-words are treated as common gender (masculine/feminine combined).
'Pauze' is a break from an activity. 'Rust' is the state of resting or peace.
You say 'Ik heb pauze'.
Yes, it is neutral. However, 'Zullen we pauze houden?' might be slightly more polite as a suggestion.
It is a specific break for coffee, usually around 10:00 AM or 3:00 PM.
Yes, many young Dutch people say 'Tijd voor een break', but 'pauze' remains the standard.
It means 'to take a break'. Literally 'to hold a break'.
You might hear 'pauzetje pakken' (grabbing a little break).
Yes, that is called 'de reclamepauze'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Pauze houden
specialized formTo take/hold a break
Even rusten
similarTo rest for a bit
Koffietijd
similarCoffee time
Schafttijd
specialized formMeal time for laborers
Tussenstop
similarStopover
Onderbreking
synonymInterruption/Break
