How to Say "Half Past" in German

halb zwei

The German phrase for "half past one" is halb zwei.

Meaning: "half past one" as example of usage in other languages (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase halb zwei literally means "half two", implying the time is halfway to two.

While English uses "half past" to look back at the current hour, German uses halb with the next hour to indicate the time is halfway toward it.

In certain regions, typically eastern parts of Germany, it is customary to use (um) halb nach instead of halb or es ist halb.

English speakers often mistakenly say halb eins for 1:30, but in German, halb refers to the upcoming hour, so 1:30 is halb zwei.

In some German dialects, you might hear the number 'two' expressed as zwo instead of the standard zwei, especially when a long string of numbers follows.
The German word halb is a close relative of the English word 'half'. Both descend from the Proto-Germanic word *halbaz.
Because German looks forward to the next hour, a beginner saying halb eins is actually telling a German speaker that it is 12:30, not 1:30.

Es ist halb zwei.
It's half past one.
This sentence is useful for stating that it is half past one.
Tatoeba #3557521 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3550808 by adamtrousers
Es ist jetzt halb zwei.
It's now half past one.
Tatoeba #3361979 by al_ex_an_der, translation #10713655 by sundown
Es ist schon halb zwei.
It's already half past one.
Tatoeba #13413742 by grbwsk, translation #13410203 by glossboss
Es ist halb sechs.
It is half past five.
Es ist dreißig Minuten nach sieben.
It is thirty minutes past seven.
um halb drei.
At half past two.
Es ist halb sieben.
It is half past six.
Um halb drei treffen wir uns.
We are meeting at half past two.
Vor halb zwölf sollten wir zu Hause sein.
We should be home before half past eleven.
Langsam wird es Zeit, es ist halb acht!
It's getting late, it's half past seven!
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Lukas and Hannah are waiting for a bus.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏