Language/German/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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German → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time

Welcome to the lesson on telling time in German! Understanding how to express time is crucial for everyday conversations, whether you're planning an appointment, meeting friends, or just chatting about your day. Knowing how to tell time can greatly enhance your ability to navigate social situations and manage your schedule in a German-speaking environment.

In this lesson, we'll cover the following topics:

  • The basics of telling time in German
  • How to ask for the time
  • Common expressions related to time
  • Examples to clarify each point
  • Practice exercises for you to apply what you've learned

By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in using time expressions in German conversations. So, let's get started!

The Basics of Telling Time in German[edit | edit source]

Telling time in German is relatively straightforward once you get the hang of it. Here are the essential phrases and structures you will need:

Saying the Time[edit | edit source]

In German, the phrase "Es ist" (It is) is used to indicate the time. The structure is as follows:

  • Es ist [hour] Uhr (It is [hour] o'clock)

For example:

  • Es ist 3 Uhr. (It is 3 o'clock.)

When the minutes are involved, you can use the following structures:

  • Es ist [hour] Uhr [minutes] (It is [hour] [minutes])
  • Es ist [hour] Uhr [minutes] nach (It is [hour] minutes past [hour])
  • Es ist [hour] Uhr [minutes] vor (It is [hour] minutes to [hour])

For example:

  • Es ist 3 Uhr 15. (It is 3:15.)
  • Es ist 3 Uhr 15 nach drei. (It is 15 minutes past 3.)
  • Es ist 3 Uhr 45 vor vier. (It is 15 minutes to 4.)

Hours and Minutes[edit | edit source]

Below is a table illustrating how to express different hours and minutes in German:

German Pronunciation English
1 Uhr aɪn uːr 1 o'clock
2 Uhr tsvaː uːr 2 o'clock
3 Uhr driː uːr 3 o'clock
4 Uhr fiːr uːr 4 o'clock
5 Uhr faɪf uːr 5 o'clock
6 Uhr zɛks uːr 6 o'clock
7 Uhr ziːbən uːr 7 o'clock
8 Uhr aχt uːr 8 o'clock
9 Uhr noɪn uːr 9 o'clock
10 Uhr tsɛn uːr 10 o'clock
11 Uhr elf uːr 11 o'clock
12 Uhr tsvaːlf uːr 12 o'clock

You can build upon this foundation by adding the minutes. For instance:

  • 10:05 in German is: Es ist 10 Uhr 5.
  • 10:25 in German is: Es ist 10 Uhr 25.

Asking for the Time[edit | edit source]

When you're curious about the time, you can ask in a few different ways:

  • Wie spät ist es? (What time is it?)
  • Könnten Sie mir sagen, wie spät es ist? (Could you tell me what time it is?)

These are polite and common ways to inquire about the time.

Here’s how to respond to these questions, using the previous structures we've discussed.

Common Expressions Related to Time[edit | edit source]

In addition to telling time, it's useful to know some common expressions related to time. Here are a few:

  • Um wie viel Uhr...? (At what time...?)
  • Heute um 3 Uhr. (Today at 3 o'clock.)
  • Morgen um 5 Uhr. (Tomorrow at 5 o'clock.)
  • Gestern um 7 Uhr. (Yesterday at 7 o'clock.)
  • In einer Stunde. (In one hour.)

These phrases will help you communicate more effectively about time in various contexts.

Examples of Telling Time[edit | edit source]

To further clarify how to tell time in German, here’s a table with different examples:

German Pronunciation English
Es ist 1 Uhr. ɛs ɪst aɪn uːr It is 1 o'clock.
Es ist 2 Uhr 30. ɛs ɪst tsvaː uːr dɛʁ t͡siː It is 2:30.
Es ist 4 Uhr 15. ɛs ɪst fiːr uːr fɪfˈt͡siːn It is 4:15.
Es ist 6 Uhr 45. ɛs ɪst zɛks uːr fɔʁ fɛʁt͡siː It is 6:45.
Es ist 9 Uhr 5. ɛs ɪst noɪn uːr faɪf It is 9:05.
Es ist 11 Uhr 20. ɛs ɪst elf uːr t͡svɑn͡tɪg It is 11:20.
Es ist 12 Uhr. ɛs ɪst tsvaːlf uːr It is 12 o'clock.
Es ist 3 Uhr 10. ɛs ɪst driː uːr tsɛn It is 3:10.
Es ist 5 Uhr 30. ɛs ɪst faɪf uːr dɛʁ t͡siː It is 5:30.
Es ist 8 Uhr 5. ɛs ɪst aχt uːr faɪf It is 8:05.

Now that you have a solid foundation in telling time, let's put your skills to the test with some exercises!

Exercises for Practice[edit | edit source]

Here are some exercises to help you practice what you've learned in this lesson. Try to answer them before checking the solutions at the end.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct time expressions.

1. Es ist ___ Uhr. (It is ___ o'clock.)

2. ___ wie viel Uhr ist es? (What time is it?)

3. Es ist ___ Uhr ___ (It is ___ hour ___ minutes.)

4. Heute um ___ Uhr. (Today at ___ o'clock.)

5. Es ist ___ Uhr ___ nach ___ (It is ___ o'clock ___ past ___)

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into German.

1. It is 3:15.

2. What time is it?

3. It is 6:45.

4. Today at 5:00.

5. It is 10:05.

Exercise 3: Ask for the Time[edit | edit source]

Formulate questions using the phrases learned in this lesson.

1. You want to know the time from a friend.

2. You are in a store and want to know the time from the cashier.

3. You are at a bus stop and want to know the time from a stranger.

Exercise 4: Match the Time with the German Expression[edit | edit source]

Match the time on the left with the correct German expression on the right.

| Time | German Expression |

|------------|--------------------------------|

| 1:00 | a) Es ist 3 Uhr 30. |

| 3:30 | b) Es ist 1 Uhr. |

| 4:15 | c) Es ist 4 Uhr 15. |

| 2:45 | d) Es ist 2 Uhr 45. |

Exercise 5: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]

Use the times provided to create sentences in German.

1. 7:00

2. 9:15

3. 12:30

4. 10:45

5. 11:05

Solutions and Explanations[edit | edit source]

Now, let's take a look at the solutions for the exercises. This will help reinforce your learning and clarify any misunderstandings.

Solutions to Exercise 1[edit | edit source]

1. Es ist 3 Uhr.

2. Wie spät ist es?

3. Es ist 5 Uhr 15.

4. Heute um 4 Uhr.

5. Es ist 2 Uhr 30 nach 1.

Solutions to Exercise 2[edit | edit source]

1. Es ist 3 Uhr 15.

2. Wie spät ist es?

3. Es ist 6 Uhr 45.

4. Heute um 5 Uhr.

5. Es ist 10 Uhr 5.

Solutions to Exercise 3[edit | edit source]

1. Wie spät ist es?

2. Könnten Sie mir sagen, wie spät es ist?

3. Entschuldigung, wie spät ist es?

Solutions to Exercise 4[edit | edit source]

| Time | German Expression |

|------------|--------------------------------|

| 1:00 | b) Es ist 1 Uhr. |

| 3:30 | a) Es ist 3 Uhr 30. |

| 4:15 | c) Es ist 4 Uhr 15. |

| 2:45 | d) Es ist 2 Uhr 45. |

Solutions to Exercise 5[edit | edit source]

1. Es ist 7 Uhr.

2. Es ist 9 Uhr 15.

3. Es ist 12 Uhr 30.

4. Es ist 10 Uhr 45.

5. Es ist 11 Uhr 5.

Congratulations on completing the lesson on telling time in German! With practice, you'll become more comfortable with these expressions. Make sure to review the exercises and examples regularly to reinforce your learning.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification. Happy learning!

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


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]



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