The correct spelling depends on the meaning you want to convey:
Hoe lang (two words, with a space between “hoe” and “lang”) is used when asking about length or distance.
- Examples:
- Hoe lang is die man? (How tall is that man?)
- Hoe lang is het van Amsterdam naar Parijs? (How far is it from Amsterdam to Paris?)
Hoelang (one word, written together) is used when asking about duration or time.
- Examples:
- Hoelang ben je al met pensioen? (How long have you been retired?)
- Hoelang duurt de vergadering? (How long does the meeting last?)
In some cases, both “hoe lang” and “hoelang” can be used with slightly different nuances. For instance, if you ask “Hoe lang duurt de film?”, it could imply both the length of the movie (in terms of running time) and how long you’ve been watching it.
Remember, the key distinction is that “hoe lang” refers to spatial dimensions (length, distance), while “hoelang” is related to temporal dimensions (duration, time).