wie spät es ist
In German, the phrase for "what time it is" is wie spät es ist.
This phrase is used to refer to the current time of day. When stating the time, the basic format is Es ist + hour + Uhr, where Uhr means "o'clock". To indicate minutes after an hour, use the word nach (past).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase wie spät es ist literally translates to "how late it is".
Which one should you use?
While wie spät es ist is used within a sentence (e.g., "Tell me what time it is"), Wie spät ist es? is the correct word order for a direct question. Alternatively, you can use the common question Wieviel Uhr ist es? to ask "What time is it?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, such as in Bavaria, people might use the word viertel to indicate fifteen minutes past the hour.
Did you know?
- When Germans tell the time informally, they often use 'half' to refer to the time leading up to the next hour, such as saying halb zwei to mean 1:30.
- The German word spät is etymologically linked to the verb sparen, which means to 'save' or 'spare'.
- In many parts of Germany, people use a 24-hour clock for official schedules and digital displays, but switch to a 12-hour clock when speaking informally.
Examples in context
- Sag mir, wie spät es ist.Tell me what time it is.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase wie spät es ist in a command.Tatoeba #9387835 by brauchinet, translation #9387830 by CK
- Ich frage mich, wie spät es ist.I wonder what time it is.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase wie spät es ist in a statement of thought.Tatoeba #682744 by al_ex_an_der, translation #682470 by Source_VOA
- Wo warst du? Weißt du, wie spät es ist?Where have you been? Do you know what time it is?This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase wie spät es ist within a direct inquiry.Tatoeba #4933938 by Esperantostern, translation #11952928 by sundown
- Entschuldigen Sie, wie spät ist es?Excuse me, what time is it?
- Können Sie mir bitte sagen, wie viel Uhr es ist?Can you please tell me what time it is?
- Weißt du, wie viel Uhr es ist?Do you know what time it is?
- Es ist halb drei.It is half past two.
- Es ist viertel nach acht.It is a quarter past eight.
- Es ist zehn vor elf.It is ten minutes to eleven.
- viertel nach zwölfA quarter past twelve
- viertel vor zwölfA quarter to twelve
- Es ist halb sechs.It is half past five.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are sitting in a cafe.
- JuliaLukas, weißt du, wie spät es ist?Lukas, do you know what time it is?
- LukasJa, es ist genau zwei Uhr.Yes, it is exactly two o'clock.
- JuliaOh, dann müssen wir gehen.Oh, then we have to go.
- LukasKeine Sorge, wir haben noch Zeit.Don't worry, we still have time.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, spät, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
