Phrases about telling the time in German

Phrases about telling the time in German
Phrases about telling the time in German

Phrases about telling the time in German.Time is a fundamental concept that occupies a significant place in human life, as well as in science and philosophy. Time serves as one of the essential dimensions that define events in the universe, alongside the three dimensions of space.

Phrases about telling the time in German

English Phrase German Phrase Pronunciation Notes
What time is it? Wie spät ist es? Vee shpate ist es? General way to ask the time
It’s 1 o’clock Es ist 1 Uhr Es ist eine Uhr
It’s 2 o’clock Es ist 2 Uhr Es ist tsvey Uhr
It’s 12:15 Es ist 12 Uhr 15 Es ist zwölf Uhr fünfzehn
It’s 12:30 Es ist halb 1 Es ist halb eine “Half to 1,” not “half past”
It’s 12:45 Es ist viertel vor 1 Es ist fier-tel vor eine “Quarter to 1”
It’s 1:15 Es ist viertel nach 1 Es ist fier-tel nahkh eine “Quarter past 1”
It’s noon Es ist Mittag Es ist mittahg
It’s midnight Es ist Mitternacht Es ist mitt-er-nahkht
In the morning morgens mohr-gens

Vocabulary about telling the time in German

English Term German Term Pronunciation Notes
Time Zeit tsait
Clock Uhr oor
Hour Stunde shtoon-de
Minute Minute min-oo-te
Second Sekunde ze-koon-de
Noon Mittag mitt-ahg
Midnight Mitternacht mitt-er-nahkht
Morning Morgen mor-gen
Afternoon Nachmittag nahkh-mit-tahg
Evening Abend ah-bend
Night Nacht nahkht
Half Halb hahlp Used as in “halb zwei” (half to two)
Quarter Viertel feer-tel Used as in “viertel nach eins”
Past Nach nahkh As in “viertel nach eins” (quarter past one)
To (till) Vor fohr As in “viertel vor zwei” (quarter to two)
Early Früh frooy
Late Spät shpate

Conversation about telling the time in German

English Speaker English Sentence German Speaker German Sentence Pronunciation Notes
Person A What time is it? Person A Wie spät ist es? Vee shpate ist es? Asking the time
Person B It’s 2 o’clock. Person B Es ist zwei Uhr. Es ist tsvey Oor Telling the time it is 2 o’clock
Person A What time is the meeting? Person A Um wieviel Uhr ist die Besprechung? Oom vee-feel Oor ist dee Besh-preh-khoong? Asking about the meeting time
Person B The meeting is at 3:30. Person B Die Besprechung ist um halb vier. Dee Besh-preh-khoong ist oom halb feer Telling the meeting time
Person A Is it in the morning or afternoon? Person A Ist es morgens oder nachmittags? Ist es mohr-gens oh-der nahkh-mit-tahgs? Clarifying the time of day
Person B It’s in the afternoon. Person B Es ist nachmittags. Es ist nahkh-mit-tahgs Indicating the time of day
Person A Thank you. Person A Danke. Dank-eh Expressing gratitude
Person B You’re welcome. Person B Bitte. Bit-te Responding to the thanks

The importance of time in German

Aspect Importance in Germany Explanation
Punctuality Highly Valued Being on time is crucial in both professional and personal settings. Lateness can be considered disrespectful.
Work-Life Balance Important Specific work hours are often strictly adhered to, with an emphasis on spending quality time outside of work as well.
Public Transport Time-sensitive Public transport generally runs on time, and timetables are strictly followed.
Social Gatherings Structured Social events often start and end punctually, and agendas are commonly used even for informal gatherings.
Business Meetings Scheduled Meetings are usually planned well in advance, and it’s crucial to be on time. An agenda is often circulated beforehand.
Time Management Taught Early The importance of time management is often instilled from a young age, including in educational settings.
Holidays and Festivals Seasonal Germans celebrate various seasonal events and holidays strictly according to the calendar.
Meal Times Specific Meal times, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are often at set times and are an important aspect of daily life.
Cultural Norms Time-bound Courtesy Greetings and behaviors may change based on the time of day (e.g., “Guten Morgen” for good morning, “Guten Abend” for good evening).

Therefore, time should be treated with respect and appreciation, leveraged to achieve our goals and improve the quality of our lives. In the end, time is life itself, and every passing moment is an irreplaceable part of it.

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