Difference between revisions of "Language/German/Vocabulary/Telling-Time"

Latest revision as of 07:53, 17 June 2023

◀️ Days of the Week and Months — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Verb Forms ▶️

German → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers, Dates and Time → Telling Time

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we will learn how to express time in German and ask for the time. Time is an essential part of daily life, and being able to tell time is crucial for scheduling appointments, catching trains, and meeting friends. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently ask for the time and understand the responses in German. So, let's dive in and learn how to tell time in German!

Basic Vocabulary[edit | edit source]

Before we dive into the specifics of telling time, let's start by learning some basic vocabulary related to time in German. This will help us better understand the examples and conversations in the later sections of this lesson.

Here are some important words and phrases related to time:

Uhr (pronounced "oor") - clock
Zeit (pronounced "tsayt") - time
Stunde (pronounced "shtoon-duh") - hour
Minute (pronounced "mee-noo-tuh") - minute
Sekunde (pronounced "zay-koon-duh") - second

Now that we have familiarized ourselves with some basic time-related vocabulary, let's move on to the main topic of this lesson - telling time in German.

Telling Time in German[edit | edit source]

In German, there are two common ways to express time: the 12-hour clock and the 24-hour clock. Let's start with the 12-hour clock, as it is the most commonly used format in everyday conversations.

The 12-Hour Clock[edit | edit source]

In the 12-hour clock format, the day is divided into two periods: "AM" (morning and forenoon) and "PM" (afternoon and evening). The hours from 1 to 12 are used to tell time in this format.

To express time in the 12-hour clock format, follow this pattern:

"Es ist" + <hour> + <minutes> + "Uhr" + <period>

Let's break down each component of this pattern:

"Es ist" (pronounced "ess ist") - This means "it is" and is used to introduce the time.
<hour> - Replace this with the specific hour you want to express. For example, if it is 4 o'clock, you would say "vier" (pronounced "feer").
<minutes> - Replace this with the specific number of minutes. For example, if it is 20 minutes past the hour, you would say "zwanzig" (pronounced "tsvan-tsikh").
"Uhr" (pronounced "oor") - This word means "o'clock" and is used to indicate that you are talking about a specific hour.
<period> - Replace this with either "morgens" (in the morning), "nachmittags" (in the afternoon), or "abends" (in the evening).

Here are some examples to help you understand:

German	Pronunciation	English
Es ist eins Uhr morgens.	ess ist eins oor mor-gens	It is 1 AM.
Es ist halb zwei nachmittags.	ess ist halb tsvai nahkh-mit-ags	It is half past 1 PM.
Es ist fünf vor zwölf abends.	ess ist fuenf for tsvelf ah-bends	It is five minutes to 12 AM.

The 24-Hour Clock[edit | edit source]

In addition to the 12-hour clock, Germans also commonly use the 24-hour clock format, especially in formal and written contexts. The 24-hour clock eliminates the need to specify "AM" or "PM" and uses the full range of hours from 0 to 23.

To express time in the 24-hour clock format, simply state the hour and the minutes without any additional words or periods. For example, if it is 14:30 (2:30 PM), you would say "14 Uhr 30" (pronounced "fohrtsayn oor dreessik").

Here are some examples to illustrate the 24-hour clock format:

German	Pronunciation	English
Es ist 8 Uhr 15.	ess ist acht oor fuenf-tseen	It is 8:15 AM.
Es ist 17 Uhr 45.	ess ist zee-ben-tseen oor fuenf-un-faer-tsee	It is 5:45 PM.
Es ist 23 Uhr 59.	ess ist drei-un-tsvantsik oor ne-un-un-fuenf-tsik	It is 11:59 PM.

Asking for the Time[edit | edit source]

Now that we know how to express time in German, let's learn how to ask for the time. Here are a few common phrases you can use to inquire about the time:

"Wie spät ist es?" (pronounced "vee shpayt ist ess") - This means "What time is it?". It is a general and commonly used phrase to ask for the time.
"Entschuldigung, haben Sie die Uhrzeit?" (pronounced "ent-shool-dee-goong, hah-ben zee dee oor-tsait") - This more formal phrase translates to "Excuse me, do you have the time?". It can be used in formal situations or when talking to strangers.

When someone tells you the time, you can respond with "Danke" (Thank you) or "Vielen Dank" (Thank you very much) to show your gratitude.

Practice Makes Perfect[edit | edit source]

To solidify your understanding of telling time in German, let's practice with some exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct time in German based on the given context.

1. "Es ist ______ Uhr morgens." (It is 6 AM.) 2. "Es ist ______ Uhr 30." (It is 2:30 PM.) 3. "Es ist ______ vor 7 abends." (It is 6:45 PM.) 4. "Es ist ______ Uhr 15." (It is 9:15 AM.)

Now, let's check the answers:

1. "Es ist sechs Uhr morgens." 2. "Es ist vierzehn Uhr dreißig." 3. "Es ist sieben Uhr fünfundvierzig." 4. "Es ist neun Uhr fünfzehn."

Well done!

Summary[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we have learned how to express time in German and ask for the time. We covered the 12-hour clock and the 24-hour clock formats, as well as common phrases for inquiring about the time. Remember to practice regularly to reinforce your understanding and become more comfortable with telling time in German.

Keep up the great work, and in the next lesson, we will continue to expand our German vocabulary and learn more about verbs and conjugation.

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1[edit source]

Course Presentation

Basic Sentence Structures

Greetings and Introduction

Definite and Indefinite Articles

Numbers, Dates and Time

Verbs and Conjugation

Family and Friends

Prepositions

Food and Drinks

Germany and German-Speaking Countries

Pronouns and Possessives

Travel and Transportation

Modal Verbs

Shopping and Clothes

Music and Entertainment

Adjectives

Health and Body

Time and Temporal Prepositions

Videos[edit | edit source]

Telling The Time | Learn German for Beginners | Lesson 09 - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

◀️ Days of the Week and Months — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Verb Forms ▶️

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <span pgnav>
 {| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
@@ Line 8: / Line 9: @@
 {{German-Page-Top}}
+<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/German|German]]  → [[Language/German/Vocabulary|Vocabulary]] → [[Language/German/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Numbers, Dates and Time → Telling Time</div>
-<div class="pg_page_title">German Vocabulary → Numbers, Dates and Time → Telling Time</div>
+__TOC__
-__TOC__
+== Introduction ==
+In this lesson, we will learn how to express time in German and ask for the time. Time is an essential part of daily life, and being able to tell time is crucial for scheduling appointments, catching trains, and meeting friends. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently ask for the time and understand the responses in German. So, let's dive in and learn how to tell time in German!
+== Basic Vocabulary ==
-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!
+Before we dive into the specifics of telling time, let's start by learning some basic vocabulary related to time in German. This will help us better understand the examples and conversations in the later sections of this lesson.
+Here are some important words and phrases related to time:
-<span link>Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: [[Language/German/Vocabulary/Shapes|Shapes]] & [[Language/German/Vocabulary/Drinks|Drinks]].</span>
+* Uhr (pronounced "oor") - clock
-== German Time Expressions ==
+* Zeit (pronounced "tsayt") - time
-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:
+* Stunde (pronounced "shtoon-duh") - hour
+* Minute (pronounced "mee-noo-tuh") - minute
+* Sekunde (pronounced "zay-koon-duh") - second
-* __die Uhrzeit__ - time (literally "clock time")
+Now that we have familiarized ourselves with some basic time-related vocabulary, let's move on to the main topic of this lesson - telling time in German.
-* __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".
+In German, there are two common ways to express time: the 12-hour clock and the 24-hour clock. Let's start with the 12-hour clock, as it is the most commonly used format in everyday conversations.
-* Say the hour first: When telling time in German, always say the hour first, followed by the minutes.
+=== The 12-Hour Clock ===
-* 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".
+In the 12-hour clock format, the day is divided into two periods: "AM" (morning and forenoon) and "PM" (afternoon and evening). The hours from 1 to 12 are used to tell time in this format.
-* 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".
+To express time in the 12-hour clock format, follow this pattern:
-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".
+"Es ist" + <hour> + <minutes> + "Uhr" + <period>
-* Use "halb" to indicate half past the hour: For example, "es ist halb zwei" means "it is half past one".
+Let's break down each component of this pattern:
-* 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".
+* "Es ist" (pronounced "ess ist") - This means "it is" and is used to introduce the time.
+* <hour> - Replace this with the specific hour you want to express. For example, if it is 4 o'clock, you would say "vier" (pronounced "feer").
+* <minutes> - Replace this with the specific number of minutes. For example, if it is 20 minutes past the hour, you would say "zwanzig" (pronounced "tsvan-tsikh").
+* "Uhr" (pronounced "oor") - This word means "o'clock" and is used to indicate that you are talking about a specific hour.
+* <period> - Replace this with either "morgens" (in the morning), "nachmittags" (in the afternoon), or "abends" (in the evening).
-Here are some examples of telling time in German using these rules:
+Here are some examples to help you understand:
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! German !! Pronunciation !! English
 |-
-| Es ist eins || es ist eins || It is one o'clock.
+| Es ist eins Uhr morgens. || ess ist eins oor mor-gens || It is 1 AM.
 |-
-| Es ist fünfzehn Uhr || es ist fünf-t-zehn uhr || It is fifteen o'clock (3:00 PM).
+| Es ist halb zwei nachmittags. || ess ist halb tsvai nahkh-mit-ags || It is half past 1 PM.
 |-
-| Es ist Viertel vor drei || es ist viertel vor drei || It is quarter to three.
+| Es ist fünf vor zwölf abends. || ess ist fuenf for tsvelf ah-bends || It is five minutes to 12 AM.
+|}
+=== The 24-Hour Clock ===
+In addition to the 12-hour clock, Germans also commonly use the 24-hour clock format, especially in formal and written contexts. The 24-hour clock eliminates the need to specify "AM" or "PM" and uses the full range of hours from 0 to 23.
+To express time in the 24-hour clock format, simply state the hour and the minutes without any additional words or periods. For example, if it is 14:30 (2:30 PM), you would say "14 Uhr 30" (pronounced "fohrtsayn oor dreessik").
+Here are some examples to illustrate the 24-hour clock format:
+{| class="wikitable"
+! German !! Pronunciation !! English
 |-
-| Es ist drei nach halb sechs || es ist drei nach halb sechs || It is three thirty-three.
+| Es ist 8 Uhr 15. || ess ist acht oor fuenf-tseen || It is 8:15 AM.
 |-
-| Es ist halb acht || es ist halb acht || It is half past seven.
+| Es ist 17 Uhr 45. || ess ist zee-ben-tseen oor fuenf-un-faer-tsee || It is 5:45 PM.
+|-
+| Es ist 23 Uhr 59. || ess ist drei-un-tsvantsik oor ne-un-un-fuenf-tsik || It is 11:59 PM.
 |}
-It's essential to practice telling time in German aloud to improve your pronunciation and internalize the rules.
+== Asking for the Time ==
-== Asking for the Time in German ==
+Now that we know how to express time in German, let's learn how to ask for the time. Here are a few common phrases you can use to inquire about the time:
-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?
+* "Wie spät ist es?" (pronounced "vee shpayt ist ess") - This means "What time is it?". It is a general and commonly used phrase to ask for the time.
-* __Können Sie mir bitte sagen, wie spät es ist?__ - Can you please tell me what time it is?
+* "Entschuldigung, haben Sie die Uhrzeit?" (pronounced "ent-shool-dee-goong, hah-ben zee dee oor-tsait") - This more formal phrase translates to "Excuse me, do you have the time?". It can be used in formal situations or when talking to strangers.
-These phrases are polite ways to ask for the time in German, and most Germans will be pleased to help.
+When someone tells you the time, you can respond with "Danke" (Thank you) or "Vielen Dank" (Thank you very much) to show your gratitude.
-== Conclusion ==
+== Practice Makes Perfect ==
-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!
-<span class='maj'></span>
+To solidify your understanding of telling time in German, let's practice with some exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct time in German based on the given context.
-==Sources==
-* [https://www.berlitz.com/blog/how-to-tell-time-german How to Tell the Time in German: A Comprehensive Guide]
+. "Es ist ______ Uhr morgens." (It is 6 AM.)
-* [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/german-time-phrases-expressions/ 36 Essential German Time Phrases and Expressions for Beginners ...]
+. "Es ist ______ Uhr 30." (It is 2:30 PM.)
-* [https://www.fluentin3months.com/german-time/ German Time: How To Tell The Time in German]
+. "Es ist ______ vor 7 abends." (It is 6:45 PM.)
+. "Es ist ______ Uhr 15." (It is 9:15 AM.)
+Now, let's check the answers:
+. "Es ist sechs Uhr morgens."
+. "Es ist vierzehn Uhr dreißig."
+. "Es ist sieben Uhr fünfundvierzig."
+. "Es ist neun Uhr fünfzehn."
+Well done!
+== Summary ==
+In this lesson, we have learned how to express time in German and ask for the time. We covered the 12-hour clock and the 24-hour clock formats, as well as common phrases for inquiring about the time. Remember to practice regularly to reinforce your understanding and become more comfortable with telling time in German.
+Keep up the great work, and in the next lesson, we will continue to expand our German vocabulary and learn more about verbs and conjugation.
-<span link>Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: [[Language/German/Vocabulary/Problems-in-German|Problems in German]] & [[Language/German/Vocabulary/Introducing|Introducing]].</span>
 {{#seo:
 |title=German Vocabulary → Numbers, Dates and Time → Telling Time
-|keywords=German vocabulary, numbers, dates, time, telling time, German language, German time expressions, time in German, asking for the time, learn German
+|keywords=German vocabulary, telling time in German, German clock, German phrases, asking for the time in German
-|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to express time in German and ask for the time. You'll also learn important German time expressions and how to use them correctly. Practice your pronunciation and soon you'll be fluent!
+|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to express time in German and ask for the time. We will cover the 12-hour clock and the 24-hour clock formats, as well as common phrases for inquiring about the time.
 }}
@@ Line 91: / Line 126: @@
 [[Category:0-to-A1-Course]]
 [[Category:German-0-to-A1-Course]]
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 ==Videos==
@@ Line 96: / Line 132: @@
 ===Telling The Time | Learn German for Beginners | Lesson 09 - YouTube===
 <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b1t5I7c4w0</youtube>
+==Sources==
+* [https://www.berlitz.com/blog/how-to-tell-time-german How to Tell the Time in German: A Comprehensive Guide]
+* [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/german-time-phrases-expressions/ 36 Essential German Time Phrases and Expressions for Beginners ...]
+* [https://www.fluentin3months.com/german-time/ German Time: How To Tell The Time in German]
 ==Other Lessons==
@@ Line 108: / Line 154: @@
 * [[Language/German/Vocabulary/Jobs|Jobs]]
 * [[Language/German/Vocabulary/Talking-About-Your-Friends|Talking About Your Friends]]
 {{German-Page-Bottom}}
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