Meaning
Asking for the current time.
Cultural Background
Punctuality is a core value. Arriving even 5 minutes late to a social gathering without texting is considered slightly rude. In Greenlandic Danish, time can be perceived more fluidly in rural areas, but 'Hvad tid er det?' remains the standard question. Faroese people are bilingual and use this phrase frequently when speaking Danish, though they have their own Faroese equivalent. In business, 'Hvad tid' is used to strictly adhere to agendas. Meetings start and end exactly on time.
Use 'lige'
Add 'lige' (just) to sound more natural: 'Hvad tid er det lige?'
Don't say 'Hvilken'
Never use 'Hvilken' when asking for the time; it sounds like a direct translation from English.
Meaning
Asking for the current time.
Use 'lige'
Add 'lige' (just) to sound more natural: 'Hvad tid er det lige?'
Don't say 'Hvilken'
Never use 'Hvilken' when asking for the time; it sounds like a direct translation from English.
24h vs 12h
Danes write in 24h (14:00) but speak in 12h (klokken to).
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to ask for the time.
Hvad ____ er det?
The standard phrase is 'Hvad tid er det?'.
Which of these is a natural way to ask for the time in Danish?
Select the correct option:
'Hvad er klokken?' is the most common alternative to 'Hvad tid er det?'.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
A: Undskyld, ____ ____ er det? B: Den er præcis to.
'Hvad tid' fits the context of asking for the current time.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
You want to know when your train leaves.
This uses 'Hvad tid' to ask about a specific scheduled event.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesHvad ____ er det?
The standard phrase is 'Hvad tid er det?'.
Select the correct option:
'Hvad er klokken?' is the most common alternative to 'Hvad tid er det?'.
A: Undskyld, ____ ____ er det? B: Den er præcis to.
'Hvad tid' fits the context of asking for the current time.
You want to know when your train leaves.
This uses 'Hvad tid' to ask about a specific scheduled event.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, they are both neutral. 'Hvad er klokken?' is simply more common for the current time.
You say 'Den er...' followed by the time, e.g., 'Den er ti'.
No, for the date use 'Hvilken dato er det?'.
In this specific phrase, 'det' is a dummy subject. However, in the answer 'Den er...', 'den' refers to 'klokken'.
It means 7:30 (half to eight), not 8:30.
It's optional. 'Den er otte' and 'Klokken er otte' are both fine.
Yes, in standard Danish it is never pronounced.
No, that is grammatically incorrect. Use 'det'.
Yes, Norwegian 'Hva er klokka?' is more common, but the structure is understood.
Say 'Hvad tid er festen?' or 'Hvornår er festen?'.
Related Phrases
Hvad er klokken?
synonymWhat is the clock?
Hvornår?
similarWhen?
Tidspunkt
builds onPoint in time
I tide
specialized formIn time
