Telling Time

Hours are expressed by the number followed by Uhr for the exact time on the hour. Use the 12-hour format with vormittags or nachmittags if you want to be more specific.

Minutes are stated by saying the number of minutes after the hour or minutes until the next hour using expressions like viertel, halb, and zwanzig. The time is anchored to the named hour.

Viertel and halb are key markers: viertel is fifteen minutes and halb refers to half an hour before the named hour when used in the common regional way. This can trip up learners so pay attention to context.

Useful expressions include Es ist ... Uhr, Es ist Viertel nach ..., Es ist halb ..., and Es ist Viertel vor .... You can also say gleich for "almost" and use gegen for approximate times.

To ask the time use Wie spät ist es? or Wie viel Uhr ist es? and you can also use more situational phrases like Wann fängt ... an? for events. Practice both asking and answering aloud.

Telling time in German relies on saying the hour with Uhr for exact times and using viertel and halb for quarters and halves relative to the named hour. Learn the key expressions to ask and give time smoothly.