A1 Expression محايد

Het is tijd.

It is time.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Het is tijd' to announce that the scheduled or appropriate moment for an action has finally arrived.

  • Means: 'It is time' for something to happen now.
  • Used in: Starting meetings, waking up, or leaving a party.
  • Don't confuse: With 'Hoe laat is het?' which asks for the clock time.
⏰ + 🏃 = 🏁

Explanation at your level:

At this level, 'Het is tijd' is a simple tool. You use it to say it's time for basic things like 'koffie' (coffee) or 'slapen' (sleep). It's a 'plug-and-play' phrase. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet. Just remember: 'Het is tijd voor...' + a noun.
Now you start using the 'om te' construction. You can say 'Het is tijd om te werken' or 'Het is tijd om naar huis te gaan.' You understand that 'het' is just a placeholder and you can start asking simple questions like 'Is het al tijd voor de lunch?'
You can use the phrase to express opinions about when things *should* happen. You might say 'Het wordt tijd dat we actie ondernemen.' You also begin to recognize the difference between 'Het is tijd' and 'Het is zover' in various social contexts, like at work or with friends.
At this stage, you use 'Het is tijd' rhetorically. You can use it in a presentation to signal a transition between topics. You understand the nuance of 'Hoog tijd' to express frustration or urgency and can navigate the cultural expectations of punctuality that the phrase implies.
You appreciate the idiomatic depth. You might use 'De tijd is rijp' in a political discussion or 'Het is de hoogste tijd' in a formal letter. You can analyze how the phrase functions as a discourse marker to control the flow of a conversation or a meeting.
You have a near-native grasp of the temporal semantics. You can use the phrase in literary contexts, perhaps referencing the famous song by Rob de Nijs, and you understand the existential and philosophical implications of 'tijd' in Dutch thought, using it with perfect prosody and cultural timing.

المعنى

Indicating the moment has come.

🌍

خلفية ثقافية

Punctuality is a core value. 'Het is tijd' is often said exactly at the start time of an appointment. Being late is considered disrespectful to the other person's 'tijd'. While also punctual, the tone can be slightly softer. You might hear 'Het is tijd, we gaan eens door' (It's time, we're heading off) in a more melodic, less blunt way. The phrase is used to cut off 'polderen' (the Dutch practice of consensus-seeking through long discussion) when a decision needs to be made. In these parts of the Kingdom, time can be more fluid. 'Het is tijd' might refer to a general window of time rather than a precise second on the clock.

🎯

Use 'Hoog tijd' for impact

If something is overdue, add 'hoog' (high). 'Het is hoog tijd!' sounds much more native when you're frustrated.

⚠️

Don't forget 'om te'

If you follow the phrase with a verb, you MUST use 'om' and 'te'. 'Het is tijd gaan' is a common beginner error.

المعنى

Indicating the moment has come.

🎯

Use 'Hoog tijd' for impact

If something is overdue, add 'hoog' (high). 'Het is hoog tijd!' sounds much more native when you're frustrated.

⚠️

Don't forget 'om te'

If you follow the phrase with a verb, you MUST use 'om' and 'te'. 'Het is tijd gaan' is a common beginner error.

💬

The 'Koffietijd' rule

In many Dutch offices, 10:30 AM is 'Koffietijd'. Saying 'Het is tijd' at 10:30 is a great way to bond with colleagues.

اختبر نفسك

Fill in the missing word (voor or om).

Het is tijd ___ koffie.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: voor

We use 'voor' before a noun like 'koffie'.

Which sentence is correct to say 'It is time to sleep'?

Choose the correct Dutch sentence:

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: Het is tijd om te slapen.

The 'om te' construction is required for verbs.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Situation: You are leaving a party because it is late.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: Het is tijd om te gaan.

This is the standard way to announce your departure.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Is het al acht uur? B: Ja, ________ om te beginnen.

✓ صحيح! ✗ ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة: het is tijd

'Het is tijd' fits perfectly as a response to the clock reaching a scheduled hour.

🎉 النتيجة: /4

وسائل تعلم بصرية

When to say 'Het is tijd'

🌅

Morning

  • • Opstaan
  • • Ontbijten
  • • Koffie
💻

Work

  • • Vergadering
  • • Deadline
  • • Pauze
🌙

Evening

  • • Eten
  • • Slapen
  • • Naar huis

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

Yes, it means 'It is time for me'. Usually followed by 'om te...'. Example: 'Het is tijd voor mij om te gaan.'

'Het is tijd' is about the clock/schedule. 'Het is zover' is about an event finally happening after waiting.

Yes, it is neutral. However, saying it loudly to someone who is busy might sound a bit direct or bossy.

Use 'Het wordt wel eens tijd' or 'Het is hoog tijd'.

Yes: 'Het was tijd om te vertrekken' (It was time to leave).

Yes, very often! Rob de Nijs has a very famous song called 'Het is tijd'.

Yes, but in this phrase, it specifically refers to the 'right' or 'appointed' time.

Absolutely! This is a very common way to suggest getting a beer with friends.

Because Dutch culture is very organized and schedule-oriented. The phrase helps manage transitions.

There isn't a direct opposite, but you could say 'Het is nog geen tijd' (It is not time yet).

عبارات ذات صلة

🔗

Het is zover

similar

The moment has arrived (usually for something long-awaited).

🔗

De tijd vliegt

similar

Time flies.

🔗

Het is tijdloos

contrast

It is timeless.

🔗

Tijd tekort komen

builds on

To run out of time.

أين تستخدمها

⏰

Waking up

Moeder: Wakker worden! Het is tijd!

Kind: Nog vijf minuutjes, alsjeblieft...

informal
💼

Starting a meeting

Manager: Het is negen uur. Het is tijd om te beginnen.

Collega: Inderdaad, laten we de agenda erbij pakken.

formal
🍻

Leaving a bar

Daan: Het is al laat. Het is tijd om te gaan.

Sophie: Ja, ik moet morgen vroeg op.

informal
🍲

Dinner is ready

Vader: Jongens, het is tijd! Aan tafel!

Kinderen: We komen eraan!

neutral
🚀

A big life change

Ik: Ik ga ontslag nemen. Het is tijd voor iets nieuws.

Vriend: Wat spannend! Wat ga je doen?

neutral
⚽

Sports match start

Coach: Mannen, het is tijd. Laat zien wat je kunt!

Team: Zet hem op!

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Tide' coming in. When the 'Tijd' is right, the tide hits the shore.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant Dutch grandfather clock. Instead of numbers, every slot says 'KOFFIE'. When the hand hits any slot, a bell rings and says 'Het is tijd!'

Rhyme

Het is tijd, geen spijt! (It is time, no regrets!)

Story

You are at a Dutch birthday party. Everyone is sitting in a circle eating cake. Suddenly, the host stands up, looks at their watch, and says 'Het is tijd.' Everyone immediately stands up and leaves. The 'tijd' was the invisible boundary of the party.

Word Web

KlokUurMomentAgendaAfspraakZoverNuBeginnen

تحدٍّ

Set an alarm on your phone for your next meal. When it goes off, say out loud: 'Het is tijd om te eten!'

In Other Languages

German high

Es ist Zeit

German often requires a Dative object if specifying 'for me' (Es ist Zeit für mich).

French high

Il est temps

French often uses the subjunctive after 'Il est temps que...'.

Spanish moderate

Es hora

Using 'Es tiempo' in Spanish is more abstract/poetic, while 'Het is tijd' is everyday Dutch.

Japanese high

時間です (Jikan desu)

Japanese often omits the subject 'it' entirely.

Arabic moderate

حان الوقت (Hāna al-waqt)

It feels slightly more formal or dramatic than the simple Dutch 'Het is tijd'.

Chinese moderate

时间到了 (Shíjiān dàole)

Dutch uses 'is' (state), Chinese uses 'dao le' (arrival/change).

Korean moderate

시간이 됐어요 (Sigani dwaesseoyo)

The focus is on the process of the time 'becoming' the right moment.

Portuguese moderate

É hora

Portuguese uses 'É tempo de' for more seasonal or long-term periods.

Easily Confused

Het is tijd. مقابل Hoe laat is het?

Learners use 'Het is tijd' to ask for the clock time.

Use 'Hoe laat' for numbers (1, 2, 3 o'clock) and 'Het is tijd' for actions.

Het is tijd. مقابل Het is de tijd

Adding 'de' changes the meaning to 'the era'.

Keep it simple: no 'de' for daily tasks.

الأسئلة الشائعة (10)

Yes, it means 'It is time for me'. Usually followed by 'om te...'. Example: 'Het is tijd voor mij om te gaan.'

'Het is tijd' is about the clock/schedule. 'Het is zover' is about an event finally happening after waiting.

Yes, it is neutral. However, saying it loudly to someone who is busy might sound a bit direct or bossy.

Use 'Het wordt wel eens tijd' or 'Het is hoog tijd'.

Yes: 'Het was tijd om te vertrekken' (It was time to leave).

Yes, very often! Rob de Nijs has a very famous song called 'Het is tijd'.

Yes, but in this phrase, it specifically refers to the 'right' or 'appointed' time.

Absolutely! This is a very common way to suggest getting a beer with friends.

Because Dutch culture is very organized and schedule-oriented. The phrase helps manage transitions.

There isn't a direct opposite, but you could say 'Het is nog geen tijd' (It is not time yet).

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