Bite 4: Talking About Time in German

German in 100 bites by Dr. Mitar Pitzek

Bite 4:
Talking About Time in German
(A1 Level)

Innes Blog - Bite 4: Talking About Time in German

Before we dive in

Did you here about Immanuel Kant, the famous German philosopher: “Zeit ist die Form des inneren Sinnes, das heißt des Anschauens unserer selbst und unseres inneren Zustandes.”
– Immanuel Kant, Kritik der reinen Vernunft

This translates to:

“Time is the form of inner sense, that is, of intuiting ourselves and our inner state.“

In Kant’s philosophy, time is not something that exists independently outside of us. Rather, it is a way our mind structures experience, part of the “inner sense” through which we perceive our own existence and mental states. Kant believed that time, alongside space, was fundamental to human perception and experience. This concept of time emphasizes that it is not a thing “out there” but a framework we use to understand and order our lives. It shows how deeply embedded time is in our way of making sense of ourselves and the world.

So lets dive in the language related part of time. Or in our word: The time is NOW! So here’s where we begin…

Introduction

Guten Tag! Time is an essential part of daily conversations, whether it’s making plans, discussing schedules, or simply asking the time. In German, understanding how to talk about time is straightforward and gives you another great tool to navigate your day. Today, we’ll go through the basics of telling and asking for the time in German.

Step-by-Step Guide to Talking About Time

1. Asking for the Time

In everyday interactions, you might want to ask someone for the time. Here are two common ways to ask:

Formal: „Entschuldigung, wie spät ist es?“ (Excuse me, what time is it?)
Informal: „Wie viel Uhr ist es?“ (What time is it?)

For more casual settings, just the simple phrase „Wie spät?“ works, especially among friends or younger people.

Exercise 1:

Translate these questions into German:

What time is the meeting?
Could you tell me the time, please?

2. Understanding Hours and Minutes

To respond, it helps to understand German numbers and how they’re used in telling time. Here’s the structure you’ll encounter most often:

Es ist (It’s) + [hour] + Uhr + [minutes].

Example: „Es ist drei Uhr zwanzig.“ (It’s 3:20.)
Or for an exact hour: „Es ist fünf Uhr.“ (It’s 5:00.)

Some Helpful Phrases for Time:

halb: Literally “half,” but in German, it refers to half an hour before the next hour.
Example: „Es ist halb vier.“ (It’s 3:30.)
Viertel nach: Quarter past the hour.
Example: „Es ist Viertel nach eins.“ (It’s 1:15.)
Viertel vor: Quarter to the hour.
Example: „Es ist Viertel vor sieben.“ (It’s 6:45.)

Exercise 2:

Translate these times into German:

2:15
7:45
4:30

3. Expressing AM and PM

In German-speaking countries, it’s common to use the 24-hour clock, especially in written communication, public transportation schedules, and formal contexts. However, people may also refer to AM and PM in informal situations by specifying morgens (in the morning), nachmittags (in the afternoon), abends (in the evening), or nachts (at night).

Examples:

„Es ist 14 Uhr.“ (It’s 2:00 PM.)
„Es ist zehn Uhr morgens.“ (It’s 10:00 in the morning.)

Exercise 3:

Rewrite these times in the 24-hour clock format in German:

3:00 PM
8:00 PM
11:00 AM

4. Talking About Daily Routines

Once you know how to tell the time, you can start to talk about when you do things during the day. Let’s look at a few examples:

„Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.“ (I get up at 7:00.)
„Ich esse um zwölf Uhr zu Mittag.“ (I have lunch at 12:00.)
„Ich gehe um zehn Uhr abends ins Bett.“ (I go to bed at 10:00 PM.)

Vocabulary Tip: The phrase um … Uhr is used to specify a time when something happens.

Exercise 4:

Create sentences in German for these routines:

I have breakfast at 8:00 AM.
I go to work at 9:00 AM.
I meet friends at 6:00 PM.

5. Practice Makes Perfect

Time-telling can be challenging at first, but the more you practice, the easier it becomes. Try using these phrases next time you make plans with a friend, set an appointment, or simply check the time. Even small conversations can help you get comfortable with numbers and vocabulary around time.

Bonus Tip from Dr. Pitzek

At the INNES Institute Vienna, we offer practical language courses that focus on everyday German for real-life situations. Whether it’s mastering numbers, telling time, or navigating social interactions, we’re here to support your learning journey with engaging, hands-on practice. Join us to make speaking German a natural part of your routine!