How to Tell Time in German: A Complete Guide

Telling time in German may seem tricky at first, especially because Germans often use expressions that don’t exist in English. But once you learn a few simple rules, it becomes easy — and even fun!

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: how to ask the time, how to read the hour, how to use the 24-hour format, and the unique German expressions like “halb sieben” (which actually means 6:30, not 7:30!).

Let’s get started.

1. How to Ask for the Time in German

Here are the most common ways to ask “What time is it?”:

To answer, Germans usually start with:

➡️ Es ist … (It is…)

2. How to Tell the Hour

German uses Uhr (literally “o’clock”) when telling time:

• Es ist drei Uhr. → It’s 3:00

• Es ist sieben Uhr. → It’s 7:00

• Es ist zwölf Uhr. → It’s 12:00

👉 In spoken language, people sometimes drop Uhr, especially for whole hours:

• Es ist neun. (It’s nine.)

3. Minutes After the Hour

Just like English “past,” Germans say:

… nach … = after

Example:

• Es ist zehn nach neun. → 9:10

You can also use:

… Minuten nach

• Es ist zwanzig Minuten nach acht. → 8:20

4. Minutes Before the Hour

Germans use:

… vor … = before

• Es ist zehn vor zwei. → 1:50

• Es ist fünf vor acht. → 7:55

5. The TRICKY German “halb” Rule

This is the part that confuses most learners!

In German:

halb + next hour = half to the next hour

Examples:

👉 Think of it like “halfway to the next hour.”

6. Quarter Hours: “Viertel nach” and “Viertel vor”

Super simple:

• Viertel nach = quarter past

• Viertel vor = quarter to

Examples:

• Es ist Viertel nach drei. → 3:15

• Es ist Viertel vor neun. → 8:45

⚠️ In parts of southern Germany & Austria, you may hear:

• Viertel drei → 2:15
  (But this is regional — stick to Viertel nach/vor.)

7. Using the 24-Hour Clock (Very Common in Germany)

Germany frequently uses the 24-hour format, especially in:

• transport (trains, buses)

• schedules

• workplaces

• appointments

Examples:

• 14:00 → vierzehn Uhr (2:00 pm)

• 18:30 → achtzehn Uhr dreißig (6:30 pm)

• 21:45 → einundzwanzig Uhr fünfundvierzig (9:45 pm)

In casual speech, though, Germans often switch back to the 12-hour system.

8. Putting It All Together (Examples)

9. Quick Cheat Sheet

Past the hour

• 5 minutes past → fünf nach

• 10 minutes past → zehn nach

• Quarter past → Viertel nach

Before the hour

• 5 minutes to → fünf vor

• 10 minutes to → zehn vor

• Quarter to → Viertel vor

German special

• halb + next hour → :30

Conclusion

Telling time in German becomes simple once you understand the special structure of:

• nach (after)

• vor (before)

• halb (half to)

• the 24-hour format

 

Master these patterns, and you’ll understand German schedules, conversations, and daily life with ease!