Language/German/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

German Vocabulary → Numbers, Dates and Time → Telling Time

As a German language teacher for over 20 years, I have seen just how important it is to understand how to express time in German. In this lesson, you will learn how to tell time in German and ask for the time. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 German Course". Let's get started!

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Shapes & Drinks.

German Time Expressions

Before diving into how to tell time in German, it's crucial to understand the basic German time expressions. Here are some of the most common German time expressions:

• __die Uhrzeit__ - time (literally "clock time")
• __halb__ - half
• __viertel nach__ - quarter past
• __viertel vor__ - quarter to

Telling Time in German

Telling time in German is relatively easy once you understand some basic rules. Here's how to express time in German:

• Use the 24-hour clock system: German speakers use the 24-hour clock system, so it's important to know how to use it. Instead of saying, for example, "3:00 PM", Germans would say "15:00".

• Say the hour first: When telling time in German, always say the hour first, followed by the minutes.

• Use "Uhr" to indicate the hour: If you're telling time on the hour, use the word "Uhr" after the hour. For example, "es ist zwei Uhr" means "it is two o'clock".

• Use "nach" and "vor" to indicate minutes after or before the hour: If you're telling time after the hour, use "nach" (after) to indicate the minutes past the hour. For example, "es ist drei nach zehn" means "it is ten past three".

If you're telling time before the hour, use "vor" (before) to indicate the minutes before the hour. For example, "es ist zehn vor drei" means "it is ten to three".

• Use "halb" to indicate half past the hour: For example, "es ist halb zwei" means "it is half past one".

• Use "viertel vor/nach" to indicate quarter to and quarter past the hour: For example, "es ist viertel nach acht" means "it is quarter past eight" and "es ist viertel vor sieben" means "it is quarter to seven".

Here are some examples of telling time in German using these rules:

German	Pronunciation	English
Es ist eins	es ist eins	It is one o'clock.
Es ist fünfzehn Uhr	es ist fünf-t-zehn uhr	It is fifteen o'clock (3:00 PM).
Es ist Viertel vor drei	es ist viertel vor drei	It is quarter to three.
Es ist drei nach halb sechs	es ist drei nach halb sechs	It is three thirty-three.
Es ist halb acht	es ist halb acht	It is half past seven.

It's essential to practice telling time in German aloud to improve your pronunciation and internalize the rules.

Asking for the Time in German

Now that you know how to tell time, you'll need to know how to ask for the time in German. Here are two common ways to ask for the time:

• __Wie spät ist es?__ - What time is it?
• __Können Sie mir bitte sagen, wie spät es ist?__ - Can you please tell me what time it is?

These phrases are polite ways to ask for the time in German, and most Germans will be pleased to help.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you've just learned how to tell time in German and ask for the time. Practice is key when learning new vocabulary, so make sure to practice telling time in German as much as you can. Keep practicing, and you'll be fluent in no time!

Sources

• How to Tell the Time in German: A Comprehensive Guide
• 36 Essential German Time Phrases and Expressions for Beginners ...
• German Time: How To Tell The Time in German

Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Problems in German & Introducing.

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Sentence Structures

• Subject and Verb
• Noun and Gender

  ---

Greetings and Introduction

• Greetings and Goodbyes
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Gender and Articles
• Plural Forms
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative

  ---

Numbers, Dates and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days of the Week and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Verb Forms
• Present Tense
• Separable Verbs

  ---

Family and Friends

• Family Members
• Talking About Your Friends

  ---

Prepositions

• Using Prepositions
• Two-Way Prepositions

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Food and Meals
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

• Geography and Landmarks
• Cuisine and Traditions

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Booking a Trip
• Public Transportation

  ---

Modal Verbs

• Expressing Abilities
• Talking About Obligations

  ---

Shopping and Clothes

• Shopping for Clothes
• Buying Groceries

  ---

Music and Entertainment

• Popular Musicians and Genres
• Movies, TV and Literature

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

  ---

Health and Body

• Talking About Health
• Body Parts

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Time and Temporal Prepositions

• Using Time Expressions
• Temporal Prepositions

Other Lessons

• Airport
• Parts of the Body
• longest word
• Common Verbs
• Talking About Health
• Animal
• Time
• Verbs in German
• Jobs
• Talking About Your Friends