Asking about the estimated wait | Learn Dutch in English

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Use Asking about the estimated wait to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Pardon, wat is de geschatte wachttijd?

par-DON, wuht iss duh GHUH-SKHAH-tuh WAHKH-tite? Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?

Ongeveer tien minuten, misschien iets langer.

ONG-uh-VAIR teen mee-NUU-tun, muh-SKHEEN eets LAHNG-ur. About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.

Ik heb hierna nog een afspraak.

ik hep HEER-nah nokh uhn AHF-sprahk. I have another appointment after this.

Als dat te laat is, kunt u na de lunch terugkomen.

ahls daht tuh LAHT iss, kuhnt uu nah duh LUHNTCH tuh-RUUK-koh-mun. If that is too late, you can come back after lunch.

Zou ik mijn plek houden als ik later terugkom?

zow ik mine plek HOW-dun ahls ik LAH-tur tuh-RUUK-kom? Would I keep my place if I came back later?

U zou na de lunch een nieuw ticket moeten nemen.

uu zow nah duh LUHNTCH uhn nyoo TIK-ut MOO-tun NAY-mun. You would need to take a new ticket after lunch.

Dan wacht ik voorlopig, want ik ben er nu al.

DAHN WAHKHT ik vohr-LOH-pikh, wahnt ik ben ur nyuu ahl. Then I'll wait for now since I'm already here.

Houdt u alstublieft het scherm in de gaten.

howt uu ahl-stuh-BLEEFT uht SKHERM in duh GHAH-tun. Please keep an eye on the screen.

Word by Word

Pardon “Pardon” is a polite way to get someone’s attention before asking a question. In “Pardon, wat is de geschatte wachttijd?”, it is useful when speaking to staff or another person in a public place. It can also politely interrupt someone in another situation.

wat “Wat” asks for information about a thing or amount; here it means “what” in the question “wat is de geschatte wachttijd?”. It appears at the start of the question after “Pardon”. Use “wat is ...?” when asking what something is or what its value is.

is “Is” expresses “is” in the question “wat is de geschatte wachttijd?”. It connects “wat” with the thing being asked about. The same form is used in a simple question about what something is.

de “De” is the definite article meaning “the” before “geschatte wachttijd”. It identifies a specific waiting time in this question. Learn it together with the exact phrase “de geschatte wachttijd”.

geschatte “Geschatte” describes the waiting time as estimated rather than exact in “de geschatte wachttijd”. The form comes before the noun in this phrase. It is useful when discussing an estimated amount, time, or value.

wachttijd “Wachttijd” means the amount of time someone must wait, here in “de geschatte wachttijd”. It names the subject being asked about in the public waiting area. Use it with a time amount when discussing how long a wait is expected to be.

Ongeveer “Ongeveer” means “about” or “approximately” in “Ongeveer tien minuten”. It shows that the speaker is giving an estimate, not an exact number. Put it before a number when giving an approximate amount of time.

minuten “Minuten” names the time units in “tien minuten”. Here it gives the approximate length of the wait. It follows a number when stating a duration in minutes.

misschien “Misschien” means “maybe” and signals uncertainty in “misschien iets langer”. The speaker is suggesting a possibility rather than making a firm prediction. Use it before a possible answer or outcome when you are not certain.

iets “Iets” means “a little” in “iets langer”, making the increase small. It softens the comparison instead of saying that the wait will be much longer. A common reuse pattern is “iets” before an adjective such as “iets langer”.

langer “Langer” means “longer” in “misschien iets langer”. It compares the possible waiting time with the approximately ten minutes already mentioned. It is useful after “iets” when describing a small increase in duration.

Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ik heb hierna nog een afspraak”. It is the subject of the statement about the speaker’s appointment. Use it before a verb when talking about yourself.

heb “Heb” means “have” in “Ik heb hierna nog een afspraak”. Here it says that the speaker has another appointment after the current wait. The reusable pattern is “Ik heb” followed by the thing or commitment the speaker has.

hierna “Hierna” means “after this” and places the appointment after the current situation. In “Ik heb hierna nog een afspraak”, it refers to what will happen after the waiting-area visit. Use it as a time expression when referring to the next event after the present one.

nog “Nog” contributes the meaning “another” in “nog een afspraak”: there is an additional appointment still to come. It appears before “een afspraak” in this sentence. Use “nog een” before a noun when mentioning one more item or event.

een “Een” is the indefinite article meaning “a” or “an” before “afspraak”. In “nog een afspraak”, it introduces one additional appointment. It is used before a singular noun when the specific item is not identified by a name.

afspraak “Afspraak” means “appointment” in “nog een afspraak”. It refers to a scheduled meeting or commitment after the current situation. Use it with a time expression when explaining that another appointment is coming.

Als “Als” means “if” and introduces the condition in “Als dat te laat is”. The statement that follows explains what happens if the waiting time does not fit the person’s schedule. Use it at the start of a condition before the situation being considered.

dat “Dat” means “that” and refers here to the expected waiting situation in “Als dat te laat is”. It lets the speaker refer back to the estimated wait without repeating it. Use it to point back to a situation or fact already understood in the conversation.

te “Te” means “too” before the adjective “laat” in “te laat”. It shows that the waiting time would be later than acceptable for the person. The reusable pattern is “te” plus an adjective, as in “te laat”.

laat “Laat” means “late” in “te laat”. Here it describes the expected wait as ending too late for the person’s other appointment. Use it with a time or event when something happens later than is suitable.

kunt “Kunt” expresses “can” in “kunt u na de lunch terugkomen”. It tells the listener that returning after lunch is possible. It is used here with “u” and the action “terugkomen”.

u “U” means “you” in the formal address used by the staff member. In “kunt u na de lunch terugkomen”, it identifies the person who can return. Use “u” when addressing someone formally or politely.

na “Na” means “after” and places the return after lunch in “na de lunch”. It comes before the time or event that provides the reference point. Use “na” with a noun when saying that something happens afterward.

lunch “Lunch” means “lunch” in “na de lunch”. It is the time reference for when the person could return. Use it after a time preposition such as “na” when describing a plan around a meal.

terugkomen “Terugkomen” means “come back” in “kunt u na de lunch terugkomen”. It describes returning to the waiting area after leaving. Here it follows “kunt” as the action the listener can perform; use it when someone returns to a place.

Zou “Zou” expresses “would” in the hypothetical question “Zou ik mijn plek houden als ik later terugkom?”. It makes the question ask about a possible result rather than a current fact. Use it to ask politely or hypothetically what would happen.

mijn “Mijn” means “my” and shows possession before “plek” in “mijn plek”. It identifies the place that belongs to or is assigned to the speaker in the queue. Put it before a noun when referring to something associated with yourself.

plek “Plek” means “place” or “spot” in “mijn plek houden”. Here it means the speaker’s position in the waiting order. Use it with “houden” when asking whether a position can be retained.

houden “Houden” means “keep” in “mijn plek houden”: the speaker asks whether the current place can be retained. It follows “zou” in the question. A useful pattern is “mijn plek houden” when discussing keeping a position.

later “Later” means “later” and indicates a time after the present moment in “als ik later terugkom”. It tells when the speaker might return. Use it as a time expression when the exact later time is not specified.

terugkom “Terugkom” means “come back” in “als ik later terugkom”. It describes the speaker’s possible return later. The reusable pattern is “als ik later terugkom” when referring to a condition involving one’s own return.

nieuw “Nieuw” means “new” and describes the ticket in “een nieuw ticket”. It shows that the person would need a different ticket after lunch. Put it before a noun when identifying something as newly issued or not the previous one.

ticket “Ticket” means “ticket” in “een nieuw ticket”. Here it is the item the person would need to take after lunch. Use it with “nemen” when describing getting or taking a ticket in a waiting system.

moeten “Moeten” contributes the meaning “need to” or “must” in “zou na de lunch een nieuw ticket moeten nemen”. Together with “zou”, it describes a requirement in a possible situation. Use it before another action when explaining what someone would need to do.

nemen “Nemen” means “take” in “een nieuw ticket moeten nemen”. Here the action is taking a new ticket after lunch. Use it with a ticket or another item when describing the action of obtaining or taking it.

Dan “Dan” means “then” and introduces the speaker’s decision in “Dan wacht ik voorlopig”. It shows that the decision follows from the information just given. Use it at the start of a response when stating the consequence or next step.

wacht “Wacht” expresses “wait” in “Dan wacht ik voorlopig”. It states that the speaker will remain waiting for the time being. Use it with a time expression when explaining that you will continue to wait.

voorlopig “Voorlopig” means “for now” or “temporarily” in “wacht ik voorlopig”. It shows that the decision to wait is limited to the current situation and may change later. Use it when describing a temporary plan without setting a definite end time.

want “Want” means “because” or “since” and introduces the reason in “want ik ben er nu al”. It connects the decision to wait with the fact that the speaker is already there. Use it before a reason that explains the preceding statement.

ben “Ben” expresses “am” in “ik ben er nu al”. Here it states that the speaker is already present at the waiting location. It is used with “ik” when describing the speaker’s current state or location.

er “Er” means “there” in “ik ben er nu al” and refers to the waiting place already understood from the conversation. It avoids repeating the name of the location. Use it when referring back to a place that is clear from the context.

nu “Nu” means “now” and locates the speaker’s presence at the current moment in “er nu al”. It contrasts the present situation with returning later. Use it as a time expression when emphasizing the current moment.

al “Al” means “already” in “er nu al”. It emphasizes that the speaker is present by this point in time. Together with “nu”, it highlights that the situation is already true now.

Houdt “Houdt” expresses the polite command “keep” in “Houdt u alstublieft het scherm in de gaten”. It asks the formally addressed listener to monitor the screen. The pattern “Houdt u ...” is used for a polite instruction to someone addressed as “u”.

alstublieft “Alstublieft” means “please” and makes the instruction more polite in “Houdt u alstublieft het scherm in de gaten”. It is placed inside the request after the polite command form. Use it when making a courteous request or instruction.

het “Het” is the definite article meaning “the” before “scherm” in “het scherm”. It identifies the particular screen that the listener should monitor. Learn it together with the exact phrase “het scherm in de gaten”.

scherm “Scherm” means “screen” in “het scherm in de gaten”. Here it is the display that may show the person’s number or turn. Use it as the object of an instruction to monitor a display.

in de gaten “In de gaten” is a fixed expression that means “keep an eye on” or monitor in “het scherm in de gaten”. “In” is the preposition, “de” is the definite article, and “gaten” is the noun used in this expression; together they form the idiom rather than a literal word-by-word translation. Use the full expression with something being monitored, as in “het scherm in de gaten”.

Grammar Points

bijvoeglijk naamwoord + zelfstandig naamwoord: geschatte wachttijd

geschatte wachttijd

GHUH-SKHAH-tuh WAHKH-tite

estimated waiting time

Before a definite noun, a Dutch adjective usually takes the ending -e: geschatte wachttijd.

getal + meervoud: tien minuten

ongeveer tien minuten

ONG-uh-VAIR teen mee-NUU-tun

about ten minutes

After a number greater than one, Dutch uses the plural noun: tien minuten.

Dutch Vocabulary

afspraak noun

AHF-sprahk appointment

een afspraak

als conj

ahls if; when

Als dat te laat is

geschatte adj

GHUH-SKHAH-tuh estimated

de geschatte wachttijd

hierna adv

HEER-nah after this

Ik heb hierna nog een afspraak.

langer adj

LAHNG-ur longer

misschien iets langer

minuut noun

mee-NUUT minute minuten

tien minuten

misschien adv

muh-SKHEEN maybe

misschien iets langer

ongeveer adv

ONG-uh-VAIR about; approximately

Ongeveer tien minuten

Pardon intj

par-DON excuse me

Pardon, wat is de geschatte wachttijd?

tien num

teen ten

tien minuten

wachttijd noun

WAHKH-tite waiting time

de geschatte wachttijd

wat pron

wuht what

Wat is de geschatte wachttijd?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?

Show Answer

Pardon, wat is de geschatte wachttijd?

About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.

Show Answer

Ongeveer tien minuten, misschien iets langer.

I have another appointment after this.

Show Answer

Ik heb hierna nog een afspraak.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

estimated

Show Answer

geschatte

excuse me

Show Answer

Pardon

maybe

Show Answer

misschien

minute

Show Answer

minuten