Known .beta.-hydroxyethyl-(1,2,4-triazole) derivatives of the formula ##STR1## in which R represents alkyl, halogenoalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl or optionally substituted phenyl,Z represents halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, halogenoalkyl, halogenoalkoxy, halogenoalkylthio, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenoxy, optionally substituted phenylalkyl or optionally substituted phenylalkoxy andm represents the number 0, 1, 2 or 3,are prepared by a new process, which comprises reacting oxiranes of the formula ##STR2## in which R, Z and m have the abovementioned meaning, with 1,2,4-triazole of the formula ##STR3## in the presence of a cylcic amid of the formula ##STR4## in which R.sup.1 represents alkyl with 1 to 4 carbon atoms andn represents the number 3, 4 or 5,as diluent, and in the presence of a base.