Meaning
Returning to one's residence.
Cultural Background
The Dutch 'Agenda' culture means people often leave social events exactly when they planned. Saying 'Ik ga naar huis' is a respected boundary. In Flanders, you might hear 'Ik ga naar huis' just as often, but the pronunciation of 'huis' is softer, and 'naar huis toe' is very common. In urban areas, the word 'osso' (from Sranan Tongo) is frequently used instead of 'huis' among younger generations. Leaving work on time is seen as a sign of efficiency, not laziness. Saying 'Ik ga naar huis' at 5:00 PM is perfectly normal.
The 'Toe' Trick
Add 'toe' at the end ('Ik ga naar huis toe') to sound more like a native speaker in casual conversation.
No Article!
Never say 'naar de huis' or 'naar het huis' if you mean your own home.
Meaning
Returning to one's residence.
The 'Toe' Trick
Add 'toe' at the end ('Ik ga naar huis toe') to sound more like a native speaker in casual conversation.
No Article!
Never say 'naar de huis' or 'naar het huis' if you mean your own home.
Directness
Don't feel rude saying this at a party; the Dutch value honesty over long goodbyes.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word.
Ik ga ___ huis.
'Naar' is the preposition used for movement toward a destination.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the correct past tense sentence:
'Gaan' uses 'zijn' as an auxiliary and 'naar huis' does not take an article.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Het is al 11 uur! B: Oh je hebt gelijk, ___.
This is the natural way to announce you are leaving because it's late.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are very tired and want to go home to sleep.
'Nest' is an informal way to refer to your bed/home when tired.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Naar Huis vs. Thuis
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIk ga ___ huis.
'Naar' is the preposition used for movement toward a destination.
Choose the correct past tense sentence:
'Gaan' uses 'zijn' as an auxiliary and 'naar huis' does not take an article.
A: Het is al 11 uur! B: Oh je hebt gelijk, ___.
This is the natural way to announce you are leaving because it's late.
You are very tired and want to go home to sleep.
'Nest' is an informal way to refer to your bed/home when tired.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's a fixed expression where the article is dropped, similar to 'go to school' in English.
No, 'naar huis' only refers to your own home. Use 'naar Jan' or 'naar zijn huis'.
'Naar huis' is movement (to home), 'thuis' is location (at home).
It is neutral and can be used in almost any context.
Use 'Ik ging naar huis' or 'Ik ben naar huis gegaan'.
It's a slang way of saying 'I'm heading home' or 'I'm leaving'.
Yes, 'huis' refers to your residence regardless of the building type.
Only in very formal writing or as a joke among friends.
It's a postposition that emphasizes the direction; it's very common in spoken Dutch.
Focus on the 'ui' sound; it's unique to Dutch and requires rounding your lips.
Related Phrases
thuis zijn
similarto be at home
huiswaarts
specialized formhomewards
naar huis toe
builds onheading home
verhuizen
contrastto move house
thuiskomen
builds onto come home
