um wie viel Uhr
/ʊm viː fiːl uːr/word by word
The German phrase for "at what time" is um wie viel Uhr.
Use this phrase when you want to ask for the specific hour and minute that an event occurs.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "at how much clock".
Which one should you use?
While the word Wann means "when", um wie viel Uhr is more specific and is used when you expect a precise time (hour and minute) in response.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word viel (much) remains in its singular form even though it is part of a phrase asking for a specific time.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʊm viː fiːl uːr/
Did you know?
- While Uhr means 'clock' in this phrase, it is a linguistic doublet of the German word Jahr, meaning 'year', as both trace back to the same ancient root for 'season'.
- While English speakers use 'hour' to mean both the duration and the time of day, the German word Uhr evolved to specifically mean a 'timing device' or 'clock'.
Examples in context
- Um wie viel Uhr ist der Weltuntergang?At what time is the end of the world?This sentence uses um wie viel Uhr to ask about the time of a future event.Tatoeba #2095414 by Tamy, translation #2095416 by Tamy
- Um wie viel Uhr wird der Markt geöffnet?At what time does the market open?This sentence uses um wie viel Uhr to ask about the opening time of a market.Tatoeba #2080676 by freddy1, translation #2172473 by freddy1
- Um wie viel Uhr isst du zu Mittag und zu Abend?At what time do you eat lunch and supper?This sentence uses um wie viel Uhr to ask about the specific times for eating lunch and supper.Tatoeba #5298843 by Sudajaengi, translation #3243769 by mervert1
- Zu welcher Uhrzeit findet die Besprechung statt?At what time does the meeting take place?
- Wann genau beginnt der Vortrag?When exactly does the presentation start?
- Um wie viel Uhr treffen wir uns?At what time are we meeting?
- Wann fängt der Film an?When does the movie start?
- Wann kommt er?When is he coming?
- Um wie viel Uhr muss ich da sein?At what time do I need to be there?
- Wann geht der nächste Zug?When does the next train leave?
- Zu welcher Uhrzeit öffnet die Ausstellung?At what time does the exhibition open?
- Wann genau ist dein Flug?When exactly is your flight?
- Um wie viel Uhr fängt das Konzert an?At what time does the concert start?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are planning to meet at the cinema.
- FelixUm wie viel Uhr beginnt der Film?At what time does the movie start?
- JuliaEr beginnt um halb acht.It starts at half past seven.
- FelixSollen wir uns vor dem Kino treffen?Should we meet in front of the cinema?
- JuliaJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (um, wie, viel, Uhr) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Uhr, um, viel, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
