om

Around/At

Level 1

The word om is a versatile Dutch preposition. Its most common uses are for clock time ('at'), physical location ('around'), and purpose ('in order to').

How It Works

The preposition om is a versatile word in Dutch with several common uses:

  • Clock Time: It is the standard way to indicate a specific time. For example: om drie uur (at three o'clock). While om is used for precise times, you can use rond or tegen for approximations (e.g., rond drie uur).
  • Spatial (Around): It indicates movement around something or a corner, such as de hoek om (around the corner).
  • Intervals: It expresses 'every other' or 'every [number]' units, such as om de dag (every other day).
  • Purpose: It is used in the om ... te + infinitive construction to mean 'in order to'.
  • Reason or Cause: It can indicate the reason for an action, such as om die reden (for that reason) or lachen om (to laugh at/about).
  • Time Expired: When used as an adverb, it means 'over' or 'up', as in de tijd is om (time is up).
  • Fixed Combinations: Some verbs go with om, such as vragen om (to ask for) or geven om (to care about).

Becoming confident with om helps you accurately describe both when things happen and how they move in space.

Examples (6)

  1. De film begint om acht uur.

    The movie starts at eight o'clock.

    Word by Word: The movie starts at eight hour.

    This shows the standard use of 'om' for clock time.

  2. We zitten om de tafel.

    We are sitting around the table.

    Word by Word: We sit around the table.

    Here 'om' indicates a physical position encircling an object.

  3. De tijd is om.

    Time is up.

    Word by Word: The time is around.

    In this adverbial use, 'om' indicates that a period of time has finished or expired.

  4. Ik ga naar de bakker om brood te kopen.

    I am going to the bakery (in order) to buy bread.

    Word by Word: I go to the baker for bread to buy.

    This demonstrates 'om' used in a purpose clause with 'te'.

  5. Hij huilt om die reden.

    He is crying for that reason.

    Word by Word: He cries for that reason.

    Here 'om' is used to indicate a reason or cause.

  6. Hij gaat de hoek om.

    He goes around the corner.

    Word by Word: He goes the corner around.

    When used with movement, 'om' can act as a postposition, appearing after the noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'op' or 'in' for clock time.

    De les is op negen uur.
    De les is om negen uur.

    English speakers often translate 'on' or 'at' literally. In Dutch, 'op' is for days and 'in' is for months, but clock times take 'om'.

  • Using 'voor' instead of 'om' when asking for something.

    Ik vraag voor een biertje.
    Ik vraag om een biertje.

    While 'voor' means 'for', the verb 'vragen' (to ask) specifically requires 'om' when you are requesting an object.

  • Omitting 'om' in a purpose clause.

    Ik ben hier Nederlands te leren.
    Ik ben hier om Nederlands te leren.

    While 'te + infinitive' is used in many places, when expressing a specific goal or purpose, 'om' is usually required to start the phrase.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

omLevel 1Around/At

Learn This First

To use 'om', you need to understand how to construct basic prepositional phrases with nouns and how to express specific clock times, as 'om' is the standard preposition for both spatial 'around' and temporal 'at'.

Words in This Pattern

om