Questions & Answers about De naald is vijf centimeter lang.
Why is it centimeter instead of centimeters after the number vijf?
In Dutch, units of measurement, currency, and time almost always stay in their singular form when they follow a specific number. That is why it is vijf centimeter, just like you would say tien euro (ten euros) or drie kilo (three kilos).
Does lang always go at the end when describing measurements?
Yes, adjectives that describe a dimension like lang (long), breed (wide), or hoog (tall) go immediately after the measurement phrase. This structure, vijf centimeter lang, perfectly matches how we say "five centimeters long" in English.
If I want to talk about physical tape measures instead of the measurement, do I still use the singular?
No, if you are referring to countable physical objects rather than the abstract unit of measurement, you use the normal plural form. For example, if you bought three tape measures, you could say you bought drie centimeters (though drie meetlinten is more common). But when measuring how long an object is, always stick to the singular!