The exact spelling appears at position 147 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume, CEFR level or proof that the noun sense is equally frequent. Article, forms, glosses, pronunciation and examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How jaar is pronounced
IPA: /jaːr/ · Syllables: jaar
Say the article and noun together—het jaar—before practising the word in a sentence. This keeps grammatical gender attached to the item you retrieve. Regional speech and sentence rhythm can change the surface sound, so use the transcription as a compact reference rather than as a substitute for listening.
What jaar means
year (the time it takes the Earth to circle the Sun; its equivalent on other planets)
Dictionary label: neuter
year (the individuals associated with a year, notably the students in or graduates from an annual class at school)
Dictionary label: neuter
An English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every context. Look at the surrounding verb, preposition, number and situation in the Dutch example. When several meanings are listed, practise one meaning at a time and state a concrete context before changing to another sense.
Article, plural and diminutive
| Form | Dutch | Speaking use |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | het jaar | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de jaren | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | jaartje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn het jaar as a single unit, then contrast it with de jaren. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with jaar
Een jaar op Mars duurt ongeveer 687 aardse dagen.
A year on Mars lasts about 687 Earth days.
Het is bijna een jaar geleden dat we elkaar zagen.
It's almost a year since we last saw each other.
Elk jaar vieren we onze trouwdag.
Every year, we celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Het jaar 2023 zal hun afstudeerjaar zijn.
The year 2023 will be their graduation year.
Alle studenten van het jaar 2020 zijn uitgenodigd voor de reünie.
All students from the year 2020 are invited to the reunion.
Ze was de beste student van haar jaar.
She was the top student of her year.
These examples are citation-backed language data. First identify what the noun refers to and which words determine or describe it. Then change only one element—person, quantity, time, place or description—while keeping the article and number consistent. That small variation turns a reference example into active speaking practice without inventing a rule from one sentence.
Four-step speaking drill
- Say het jaar three times, then add one adjective or location that fits the first meaning.
- Build a present-tense sentence with a named person, a concrete place and the singular noun.
- Change the message to de jaren. Update the number, determiner and finite verb instead of replacing only the noun ending.
- Ask a follow-up question containing the noun, record the answer, and repeat once with a different detail.
Listen first for meaning and article choice, then for sentence order and pronunciation. Correct the first error that changes the message or blocks the listener. Avoid restarting for every small hesitation: complete the message, note one target, and make the second recording more precise.
Self-check before you continue
- I retrieve het jaar as one chunk.
- The singular or plural matches the determiner, quantity and verb.
- The selected meaning fits the situation.
- The sentence includes enough detail for another person to understand the reference.
- I can ask and answer one question with the noun without reading the page.
Questions about jaar
What does jaar mean?
year (the time it takes the Earth to circle the Sun; its equivalent on other planets); year (the individuals associated with a year, notably the students in or graduates from an annual class at school).
Is it de jaar or het jaar?
The cited entry uses het jaar. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of jaar?
The cited plural is jaren. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use jaar in a recorded response
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