Breakdown of Timen begynder klokken otte.
otte
eight
begynde
to begin
klokken
the clock; o'clock, the time (of day)
timen
the lesson, the class (a school period)
Questions & Answers about Timen begynder klokken otte.
Why does timen mean "the lesson" here? Isn't it just the English word "time"?
Timen is a "false friend." In Danish, en time means "an hour" or "a lesson" (like a school class). If you want to talk about "time" in a general sense, you use the word tid. Here, the -n ending makes it definite, so it means "the lesson" or "the hour."
Where is the word for "at" in klokken otte?
Danish doesn't use a preposition (like "at") when stating the time of day in this way. You just say klokken (the clock) directly followed by the number. So, "at eight o'clock" translates simply to klokken otte.
Could I use starter instead of begynder in this sentence?
Yes, you absolutely can! Timen starter klokken otte means exactly the same thing. In Danish, begynder and starter are used interchangeably in most everyday situations, just like "begins" and "starts" in English.
Learn Timen begynder klokken otte and more in Danish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free