dag
/dɑx/masculine
The English word 'day' is translated into Dutch as dag. Wiktionary also lists etmaal.
Meaning: period of 24 hours (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dag | /dɑx/ | masculine |
| etmaal | /ˈɛt.maːl/ | neuter |
The word is used to refer to a period of 24 hours. It can also be used in greetings, such as the phrase Dag allemaal, which means 'hello everyone' or 'good day all'.
Which one should you use?
dag is the common, everyday word for 'day', whereas etmaal is a technical or formal term used specifically to denote a full 24-hour cycle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of dag is dagen. Note that dag is a masculine noun, while etmaal is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/dɑx/
When do people say it?
While dag is a noun meaning 'day', it is also used in greetings like Dag allemaal ('hello everyone'). For a more casual greeting, one might use Hoi ('hi').
Did you know?
- Dutch speakers use the phrase een dagje uit to describe a specific cultural activity: a day trip to a city or nature reserve for leisure.
- The word etmaal is used in Dutch law and hotels to specify a strict 24-hour period, preventing confusion between a 'calendar day' and a 'full day'.
- While dag is the standard word for 'day', it can also serve as a parting salutation, similar to how English speakers might say 'good day' when leaving.
Examples in context
- Ik ren elke dag.I run every day.This sentence shows the use of dag to describe a daily frequency.Tatoeba #8473452 by MarijnKp, translation #261849 by CK
- Ik zwem elke dag.I swim every day.This sentence illustrates the use of dag when discussing daily habits.Tatoeba #626216 by Citrine, translation #261832 by CK
- Wat een hete dag!What a hot day!This sentence shows how to use dag when describing the weather of a specific day.Tatoeba #5339867 by Raizin, translation #2259827 by _undertoad
- Hoi, hoe is je dag vandaag?Hi, how is your day today?
- 954 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Levi and Emma are talking about their work schedules.
- LeviHeb je morgen een vrije dag?Do you have a day off tomorrow?
- EmmaJa, ik werk die dag niet.Yes, I am not working that day.
- LeviZullen we dan samen gaan wandelen?Shall we go for a walk together then?
- EmmaDat is een goed plan voor die dag!That is a good plan for that day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “day” translations and entries dag, etmaal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
