Knowing how to express time in German is essential for effective communication. Whether you’re arranging meetings, making plans, or simply discussing time, understanding how to say hours in German will greatly enhance your language skills. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore various ways to express hours, including formal and informal expressions. We’ll also provide you with useful tips, examples, and regional variations to ensure you’re well-equipped to discuss time in German.
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions for Hours
When it comes to formal settings such as business meetings, official events, or professional conversations, it’s important to use the appropriate language. Here are some formal expressions for hours in German:
- Eins – 1 o’clock
- Zwei – 2 o’clock
- Drei – 3 o’clock
- Vier – 4 o’clock
- Fünf – 5 o’clock
- Sechs – 6 o’clock
- Sieben – 7 o’clock
- Acht – 8 o’clock
- Neun – 9 o’clock
- Zehn – 10 o’clock
- Elf – 11 o’clock
- Zwölf – 12 o’clock
Informal Expressions for Hours
In informal settings, such as casual conversations or when talking to friends and family, there are some variations in how hours are expressed. Here are the common informal expressions for hours in German:
- Ein Uhr or Einige Uhr – 1 o’clock
- Zwei Uhr or Zwo Uhr – 2 o’clock
- Drei Uhr – 3 o’clock
- Vier Uhr – 4 o’clock
- Fünf Uhr – 5 o’clock
- Sechs Uhr – 6 o’clock
- Halb Sieben – half past six (literally “half to seven”)
- Viertel Sieben – quarter past six (literally “quarter past seven”)
- Viertel Acht – quarter to seven (literally “quarter to eight”)
- Halb Neun – half past eight (literally “half to nine”)
Tips for Expressing Hours
When expressing hours, keep the following tips in mind:
- Use the word “Uhr” after the number to specify that you are referring to the hour.
- For minutes, use the format “halb” (half past), “viertel” (quarter past/to), or specific minute numbers.
- When using “halb,” it refers to the hour in the following way: “halb Sieben” means half past six (literally “half to seven”).
- When using “viertel,” it refers to the hour in the same way: “viertel Sieben” means quarter past six (literally “quarter past seven”).
- Counting minutes after the half-hour mark follows a different pattern. For example, for 1:35, you would say “Es ist fünfunddreißig Minuten nach eins” which translates to “It is thirty-five minutes past one.”
- When talking about exactly 1 o’clock, you can use both “ein Uhr” and “eins” interchangeably.
Examples
Let’s go through some examples to further illustrate how to say hours in German:
Example 1:
English: What time is it?
Formal translation: Wie spät ist es?
Informal translation: Wie viel Uhr ist es?Example 2:
English: It’s 4 o’clock.
Formal translation: Es ist vier Uhr.
Informal translation: Es ist vier.Example 3:
English: It’s 6:30.
Formal translation: Es ist halb sieben.
Informal translation: Es ist halb sieben.Example 4:
English: It’s 1:45.
Formal translation: Es ist ein Uhr fünfundvierzig.
Informal translation: Es ist viertel vor zwei.
Regional Variations
Although German is primarily standardized throughout the country, some regional variations in expressing hours exist. For example, in southern Germany and Austria, they tend to use “um” instead of “Uhr.” Here’s an example of regional variation:
Example 5:
English: It’s 2 o’clock.
Standard German: Es ist zwei Uhr.
Southern German/Austrian variation: Es ist um zwei.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve just learned how to say hours in German. Now, you can confidently express time in various settings and impress your German-speaking friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. Don’t forget to practice using the formal and informal expressions we’ve covered, and keep in mind the regional variations if necessary. Viel Erfolg (good luck) with your German language journey!
