Time
Telling time in German follows specific patterns. Understanding these patterns will help you communicate about time effectively.
This lesson covers how to express time in German, including hours, minutes, and common time expressions.
Explanation
Use 'Uhr' (o'clock) for exact hours: 'Es ist drei Uhr' (It is three o'clock), 'Es ist zehn Uhr' (It is ten o'clock).
For minutes past the hour, say the hour first, then the minutes: 'Es ist drei Uhr fünfzehn' (It is 3:15), 'Es ist zehn Uhr dreißig' (It is 10:30).
For minutes to the hour, use 'vor' (before/to): 'Es ist fünf vor drei' (It is five to three = 2:55), 'Es ist zehn vor zehn' (It is ten to ten = 9:50).
For minutes past the hour, you can also use 'nach' (after/past): 'Es ist fünf nach drei' (It is five past three = 3:05), 'Es ist zehn nach zehn' (It is ten past ten = 10:10).
Use 'halb' (half) for 30 minutes: 'Es ist halb drei' (It is half past two = 2:30), 'Es ist halb zehn' (It is half past nine = 9:30). Note: 'halb drei' means 2:30, not 3:30!
Use 'Viertel' (quarter): 'Es ist Viertel nach drei' (It is quarter past three = 3:15), 'Es ist Viertel vor drei' (It is quarter to three = 2:45).
Time Expressions
| Time | German | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | Es ist drei Uhr | It is three o'clock | Exact hour |
| 3:05 | Es ist fünf nach drei | It is five past three | Minutes past |
| 3:15 | Es ist Viertel nach drei | It is quarter past three | Quarter past |
| 3:30 | Es ist halb vier | It is half past three | Half (note: halb vier = 3:30) |
| 3:45 | Es ist Viertel vor vier | It is quarter to four | Quarter to |
| 3:55 | Es ist fünf vor vier | It is five to four | Minutes to |
Examples
Es ist drei Uhr.
It is three o'clock.
Es ist halb vier.
It is half past three. (3:30)
Es ist Viertel nach drei.
It is quarter past three. (3:15)
Es ist zehn vor zehn.
It is ten to ten. (9:50)
Um wie viel Uhr? Um acht Uhr.
At what time? At eight o'clock.
Common Mistakes
Es ist halb drei (meaning 3:30)
Es ist halb vier
'halb drei' means 2:30, not 3:30. For 3:30, say 'halb vier' (half to four).
Es ist drei Uhr fünfzehn (when meaning 3:15)
Es ist Viertel nach drei
While 'drei Uhr fünfzehn' is correct, 'Viertel nach drei' is more common and natural.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.