om
At and Around
Om means at with clock times: om agtuur (at eight o'clock). With places it means around: om die hoek (around the corner).
How It Works
1. At a clock time. om agtuur (at eight o'clock), om halfdrie (at half past two), om middernag (at midnight). Ask with Hoe laat?: Hoe laat begin die fliek? Om agtuur. (see telling the time).
2. Around a place. om die hoek (around the corner), Ons sit om die tafel. (We sit around the table.) Die hond hardloop om die huis. (The dog runs around the house.)
3. Days and dates. Om is for times of the day, not for days and dates. For those, use op or no word at all: op Maandag or just Maandag, op 5 Mei (see days of the week).
4. About, roughly. om en by means about or roughly: om en by twintig mense (about twenty people).
5. Time's up. After is, om can mean over: Die tyd is om. (Time is up.)
Tip: Om also starts the om ... te pattern, meaning in order to (see om te). That om is not a time or place word.
Examples (6)
- Die fliek begin om agtuur.
The film starts at eight o'clock.
Word by Word: The film begins at eight-o'clock.
- Die bakkery is net om die hoek.
The bakery is just around the corner.
Word by Word: The bakery is just around the corner.
- Die hele gesin sit om die tafel.
The whole family is sitting around the table.
Word by Word: The whole family sits around the table.
- Ek staan elke dag om sesuur op.
I get up at six every day.
Word by Word: I stand every day at six-o'clock up.
Om gives the exact clock time.
- Daar was om en by vyftig mense.
There were about fifty people.
Word by Word: There were around and by fifty people.
Om en by means roughly.
- Julle tyd is om.
Your time is up.
Word by Word: Your time is around.
After is, om can mean over or finished.
Common Mistakes
Using by or op for at with a clock time.
Die les begin by tienuur.Die les begin om tienuur.With clock times, English at becomes om.
Using om with a day.
Ons speel om Saterdag tennis.Ons speel op Saterdag tennis.Om is for times of the day, not for days. Days take op, or no preposition: Ons speel Saterdag tennis.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Om is used for clock times and for going around something.
Related Patterns
- opOn
Op is used for days and dates, where om is used for clock times.
Level 1 - Days of the Week
The days that take op, not om.
Level 1 - om ... te + InfinitiveIn Order to: Om ... Te
A different use of om, meaning in order to.
Level 3 - soggens/saansIn the Morning and Evening: Soggens and Saans
Other ways to say when something happens in the day.
Level 2 - teenAgainst and by: Teen
Teen means by a time limit: teen vyfuur.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice om in Bubblegum
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