Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ik drink mijn eerste kopje water in de ochtend. - I drink my first cup of water in the morning.

In Dutch, just like in English, the subject typically comes first in a simple statement. Ik means I, so placing ik at the front clarifies immediately who is doing the action.

What does mijn mean, and why is it used here?

Mijn translates to my in English. It shows that the eerste kopje water (first cup of water) belongs to the speaker. In Dutch, possessive adjectives like mijn always precede the noun they modify (similar to English).

What is kopje, and how is it different from kop?

Kopje literally means little cup. The suffix -je in Dutch is a diminutive that indicates something is small or is being referred to in a more affectionate or friendly way. Kop means cup (or sometimes head, depending on context), but kopje is a small or endearing version of a cup.

Why is it in de ochtend and not something else?

In de ochtend means in the morning. This phrasing is quite common for referring to the general time of day. Another option is 's ochtends, which literally means in the mornings but is often just used to say in the morning. Both are correct; in de ochtend places more emphasis on the morning as a specific time block, while 's ochtends can feel more habitual.

Is the word order Ik drink mijn eerste kopje water in de ochtend normal in Dutch?

Yes, this is the normal word order for a simple sentence: Ik (subject) + drink (verb) + mijn eerste kopje water (object) + in de ochtend (time). If you want to emphasize the time, you could say In de ochtend drink ik mijn eerste kopje water, but the original form is the most common and straightforward way.