zes
/zɛs/
Six in Dutch is zes.
zes is the cardinal number for 6.
Meaning: cardinal number (num)
How does it change in a sentence?
The number zes is indeclinable and does not change based on the gender or number of the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
/zɛs/
Did you know?
- If you are looking at a clock in the Netherlands, 'half zes' does not mean 'six and a half', but rather 'half past five'.
- In Dutch culture, the phrase zes is central to the traditional 'six-day race' (zesdaagse), a grueling track cycling event that is a major sporting spectacle in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- The Dutch word for a 'six-pack' of beer is zespak, but the term is also used colloquially to describe well-defined abdominal muscles.
Examples in context
- Het is zes uur.It's six o'clock.Tatoeba #4328645 by Aubrey, translation #2714674 by Adelpa
- Het was zes uur.It was six o'clock.Tatoeba #7799520 by MarijnKp, translation #2978675 by CK
- Het is al zes uur.It's six o'clock already.Tatoeba #7799505 by MarijnKp, translation #31687 by CK
- Ik heb zes appels gekocht.I bought six apples.
- We kunnen een half dozijn croissants krijgen.We can get half a dozen croissants.
- 212 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Noah are preparing snacks for a party.
- EmmaHoeveel appels hebben we nodig?How many apples do we need?
- NoahIk denk dat zes appels genoeg zijn.I think six apples are enough.
- EmmaOké, ik pak er zes.Okay, I will take six.
- NoahDat is perfect, Emma.That is perfect, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “six” translations and entries zes, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
