Times in German
Understanding how to ask, read, and say the time in German is an essential everyday skill. Whether you’re catching a train in Berlin, scheduling a meeting, or meeting friends for coffee, you’ll hear and use time expressions constantly.
This guide explains German clock expressions, minutes, the 12-hour and 24-hour formats, and common vocabulary with clear examples.
How to ask the time in German
Two common questions are used to ask the time:
Wie spät ist es?
What time is it?
Wie viel Uhr ist es?
What time is it?
Typical response:
Es ist drei Uhr.
It is three o’clock.
Most German time statements follow a simple structure:
Es ist + time
For example:
- Es ist acht Uhr. — It is eight o’clock
- Es ist zehn Uhr. — It is ten o’clock
Key idea
German time pattern
Almost every time expression starts with “Es ist …” (It is…).
Examples
- Es ist zwei Uhr.
- Es ist halb vier.
- Es ist Viertel nach sieben.
Saying the exact hour
To express full hours, German uses Uhr (o’clock).
| Time | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | Es ist ein Uhr | It is one o’clock |
| 3:00 | Es ist drei Uhr | It is three o’clock |
| 7:00 | Es ist sieben Uhr | It is seven o’clock |
| 12:00 | Es ist zwölf Uhr | It is twelve o’clock |
Note that ein is used instead of eins when telling the time.
Use Uhr when stating exact hours.
Minutes past the hour (nach)
When minutes come after the hour, German often uses nach (“past”).
Examples:
| Time | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 3:05 | fünf nach drei | five past three |
| 3:10 | zehn nach drei | ten past three |
| 3:20 | zwanzig nach drei | twenty past three |
The pattern:
minutes + nach + hour
Example:
Es ist zwanzig nach sieben.
It is 7:20.
Minutes before the hour (vor)
When minutes come before the next hour, German uses vor (“to” or “before”).
Examples:
| Time | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 5:50 | zehn vor sechs | ten to six |
| 8:55 | fünf vor neun | five to nine |
| 4:40 | zwanzig vor fünf | twenty to five |
The pattern:
minutes + vor + next hour
Example:
Es ist zehn vor acht.
It is 7:50.
Quarter and half hours
German commonly uses special expressions for quarter hours and half hours.
| Time | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 3:15 | Viertel nach drei | quarter past three |
| 3:30 | halb vier | half past three |
| 3:45 | Viertel vor vier | quarter to four |
Important rule:
halb vier literally means “half to four” (3:30).
German counts the half hour toward the next hour, not the previous one.
Example:
Es ist halb acht.
It is 7:30.
Regional variations
Some German-speaking regions also say:
- viertel acht (7:15)
- dreiviertel acht (7:45)
But the more widely understood forms are:
- Viertel nach sieben
- Viertel vor acht
The 12-hour vs 24-hour clock
German uses both systems.
12-hour clock (spoken language)
Used in everyday conversation.
Examples:
- Es ist drei Uhr nachmittags.
- Es ist acht Uhr abends.
24-hour clock (formal contexts)
Used in:
- train schedules
- TV programs
- official announcements
Examples:
| Time | German |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | vierzehn Uhr |
| 17:30 | siebzehn Uhr dreißig |
| 21:15 | einundzwanzig Uhr fünfzehn |
The 24-hour clock is common in timetables and formal information.
Writing the time in German
Times are typically written in numeric format.
Common formats:
14:30
17:45
09:05
In formal German standards (DIN 5008), hours and minutes are separated with a colon.
Sometimes Uhr is added:
17:30 Uhr
German vocabulary related to time
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Zeit | time |
| die Uhr | clock |
| die Uhrzeit | time of day |
| die Stunde | hour |
| die Minute | minute |
| die Sekunde | second |
| früh | early |
| spät | late |
| pünktlich | punctual |
Times of day
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Morgen | morning |
| der Vormittag | late morning |
| der Mittag | noon |
| der Nachmittag | afternoon |
| der Abend | evening |
| die Nacht | night |
Example sentences
Der Zug fährt um acht Uhr.
The train leaves at eight o’clock.
Wir treffen uns um halb sieben.
We meet at 6:30.
Der Film beginnt um Viertel nach neun.
The movie starts at 9:15.
Die Besprechung ist um 14:30 Uhr.
The meeting is at 14:30.
Practice exercises
Try converting these times into German:
| Time | Your answer |
|---|---|
| 4:15 | |
| 6:30 | |
| 7:50 | |
| 9:20 |
Answers:
- Viertel nach vier
- halb sieben
- zehn vor acht
- zwanzig nach neun
Frequently Asked Questions about German Time
How do you ask the time in German?
The most common question is:
Wie spät ist es?
Another option is:
Wie viel Uhr ist es?
How do Germans say 7:30?
They say:
halb acht
This literally means half to eight, even though it corresponds to 7:30.
Do Germans use the 24-hour clock?
Yes.
The 24-hour format is common in writing and official contexts, such as train timetables and schedules.
Example:
17:30 → siebzehn Uhr dreißig
What does “Uhr” mean in German time?
Uhr means “o’clock” or “clock.”
Example:
Es ist drei Uhr.
Continue learning
Times rely heavily on numbers and dates, so you may also want to learn these topics.
Related pages: German, German Numbers Quiz, Count In German.
Further reference: Duden on numbers and digits.