Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij slapen acht uur per nacht.

In Dutch, when a specific number directly precedes uur, the noun stays in its singular form. So you say acht uur, not acht uren. The form uren is used more generally (without a numeral), for example tijdens de uren dat… or honderd uren werken in very formal contexts.

Why isn't there an article before nacht in per nacht?

When using per with units of time (dag, week, maand, nacht, etc.) to mean “for each,” Dutch omits the article. Hence you always say per dag, per week, per maand, per nacht—never per de nacht.

What exactly does per do in this sentence?

Here per functions as a preposition meaning “for each” or “per.” It tells us the measurement unit for the action: you sleep eight hours for each night.

Could you use ’s nachts instead of per nacht?

Yes. ’s nachts means “at night,” emphasising the time of day. If you say Wij slapen acht uur ’s nachts, you’re focusing on the nightly context. Per nacht stresses the recurring duration “per night.”

Why is the verb slapen not conjugated as slaapt for wij?

In the Dutch present tense, wij (we) always takes the bare infinitive form of the verb, so it’s wij slapen. Only the third-person singular (hij/zij/het) adds -t (hij slaapt).

Can I use we instead of wij?

Yes. We is simply the colloquial, unstressed form of wij. Both mean “we,” but wij can be used for emphasis or in more formal speech.

Why is acht uur per nacht placed at the end of the sentence?

Dutch main clauses often follow the structure Subject – Verb – Object – Time/Place/Manner. Time expressions like acht uur per nacht usually come after the verb (and object, if any) or at the very end to keep the sentence clear.

How do you ask “How many hours do we sleep per night?” in Dutch?

You’d say Hoeveel uur slapen wij per nacht? In questions, the question phrase Hoeveel uur comes first, then the finite verb slapen, followed by the subject wij, and finally per nacht.