Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ochtend | /ˈɔx.tənt/ | masculine |
| morgen | /ˈmɔrɣə(n)/ | masculine |
| voormiddag | /ˈvoːr.mɪˌdɑx/ | masculine |
ochtend refers to the general part of the day between dawn and midday. voormiddag is used to refer specifically to the forenoon or the late morning period just before midday.
Which one should you use?
Use ochtend when referring to the time of day or the period of the morning. Use voormiddag to refer specifically to the period between the morning and midday.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Limburg region, locals might say goeie morge instead of the standard greeting.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'tomorrow morning', you can combine the two words into the compound noun morgenochtend.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɔx.tənt/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
When do people say it?
To say 'good morning', the standard and widely used way is Goedemorgen. Using Goedemorgen followed by a person's name is a friendly and polite way to greet someone. In spoken Dutch, you may hear the slightly more informal Goeiemorgen, while the highly informal and shortened version Mogguh! is also used.
Did you know?
- The word morgen is etymologically linked to the idea of twinkling or blinking, stemming from a root meaning 'to blink'.
- The word morgen is a close relative of the English word 'morrow', used in the archaic 'goodmorrow'.
- While 'morning' is the translation, the word morgen is also the standard Dutch word for 'tomorrow'.
Examples in context
- Sta morgen vroeg op!Get up early tomorrow morning!This sentence shows how to use morgen in the context of tomorrow.Tatoeba #8993474 by Nylez, translation #323195 by Swift
- Ik ben een ochtendmens.I am a morning person.This sentence shows how to use ochtend to describe a person's nature.Tatoeba #4278676 by Aubrey, translation #8977761 by mccarras
- Ben je een ochtendmens?Are you a morning person?This sentence shows how to use ochtend in a question.Tatoeba #6889748 by Micsmithel, translation #6861790 by CK
- 296 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lucas are meeting for coffee in a cafe.
- JuliaGoedemorgen, Lucas! Wat een mooie ochtend.Good morning, Lucas! What a beautiful morning.
- LucasHoi Julia, ja, het is heerlijk weer.Hi Julia, yes, the weather is lovely.
- JuliaHeb je een drukke ochtend gehad?Did you have a busy morning?
- LucasJa, ik had veel vergaderingen.Yes, I had a lot of meetings.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “morning” translations and entries ochtend, morgen, voormiddag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries morgen, ochtend, voormiddag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
