Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.

We want to sleep in on the weekend.

Breakdown of Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.

• wij: we
• in: in
• het weekend: the weekend
• willen: to want
• uitslapen: to sleep in

Questions & Answers about Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.

Why is willen used here, and does it mean want or will in English?

In this sentence willen means to want (to), not the English will for the future.

• Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen = We want to sleep in at the weekend.
• Dutch usually uses zullen or just the present tense for future meaning, not willen.

So willen expresses desire/intention (want to), while zullen or context handles the future (for example: We zullen in het weekend uitslapen = We will sleep in at the weekend).

Why is uitslapen at the end of the sentence?

In main clauses, Dutch follows the verb-second rule: the conjugated verb (here willen) must be in second position, and any infinitive or other verb(s) go near the end of the clause.

Structure here:

• Wij (subject)
• willen (conjugated verb in second position)
• in het weekend (time expression)
• uitslapen (infinitive at the end)

That’s why you get Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen, not Wij willen uitslapen in het weekend (though that alternate order is also possible; see below).

Can I also say Wij willen uitslapen in het weekend? Is that wrong?

It’s not wrong; it’s acceptable Dutch.

Both are possible:

• Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.
• Wij willen uitslapen in het weekend.

The difference is very small and mostly about emphasis and rhythm.
Placing in het weekend earlier is more common and sounds a bit more neutral in this kind of sentence, but putting it at the end is still fine.

What exactly does uitslapen mean? Is it just to sleep?

Uitslapen does not just mean to sleep; it specifically means to sleep in / to sleep late, usually because you don’t have to get up early.

• slapen = to sleep
• uitslapen = to sleep in, to sleep late, to sleep as long as you want

It’s a separable verb:

• Infinitive: uitslapen (written together)
• Simple present with slapen as the finite verb: Wij slapen in het weekend uit. (the uit goes to the end)

What does it mean that uitslapen is a separable verb? How does that affect sentences?

A separable verb in Dutch consists of a prefix + a main verb (here uit + slapen).

• As an infinitive or in the past participle, it’s written together: uitslapen, uitgeslapen.

• When it is the main conjugated verb in a main clause, the prefix moves to the end:

  • Ik slaap morgen uit. = I’ll sleep in tomorrow.
  • Wij slapen in het weekend uit.

When another verb is conjugated (like willen, kunnen, moeten), uitslapen stays together at the end as an infinitive:

• Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.
• Wij kunnen in het weekend uitslapen.
• Wij moeten in het weekend uitslapen.

What is the difference between Wij and We in Dutch?

Both wij and we mean we in English; the difference is mainly in emphasis and style.

• wij: stressed, a bit more emphatic, sometimes slightly more formal or careful speech.
  
  • Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen. (emphasis on we)
• we: unstressed, more neutral and very common in everyday speech.
  
  • We willen in het weekend uitslapen.

In many contexts you’d more naturally say We willen in het weekend uitslapen.

Why is it in het weekend and not something like at the weekend or on the weekend?

Dutch typically uses in for general time periods like weekends:

• in het weekend = at the weekend / on weekends
• in de zomer = in the summer
• in de vakantie = in the holidays

You don’t normally say op het weekend in Standard Dutch (though you may hear regional variations, especially in Belgium).
Also, note that in het weekend can refer to weekends in general, not just the coming one.

Why is it het weekend and not de weekend?

Weekend is a neuter noun in Standard Dutch, so it takes the article het:

• het weekend (singular)
• de weekenden (plural)

Some dialects or regional varieties may use de weekend, but het weekend is the standard and what you should learn and use in writing and in most speech.

Can I omit wij and just say Willen in het weekend uitslapen?

No, not in normal Dutch. Dutch is not a “pro-drop” language like Spanish or Italian; you usually must include the subject pronoun:

• Correct: Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.
• Incorrect as a full sentence: Willen in het weekend uitslapen.

You only leave the subject out in special cases, like imperatives (Slaap uit! – Sleep in!) or certain very informal note-like styles, but not in a normal declarative sentence like this.

How would I turn this into a yes/no question in Dutch?

For a yes/no question, Dutch moves the conjugated verb to the first position:

• Statement: Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen.
• Question: Willen wij in het weekend uitslapen?

More commonly in speech you’d use we:

• Willen we in het weekend uitslapen? = Do we want to sleep in at the weekend?

If I want to say We like sleeping in on weekends, would I still use willen?

If you want the idea of liking (enjoying) it in general, you would normally use graag with uitslapen, not willen or houden van:

• Wij slapen in het weekend graag uit.
  Literally: We sleep out gladly in the weekend
  Meaning: We like sleeping in on weekends.

Willen focuses on wanting/intending to do it now or in a specific situation:

• Wij willen in het weekend uitslapen. = We want to sleep in at the weekend.

So:

• graag
  • verb = you (generally) like doing that activity
• willen
  • verb = you (currently) want/intend to do that activity.