Other

Time

Zeit

Most often we operate in a 24-hour system, sometimes also in a 12-hour system. In the case of the 12-hour option, if this is not clear from the context of the sentence, time of day may be specified in order to avoid ambiguity.

Formats and applications

Time in formal language
Time in the everyday language
  • Translation
  • half past eleven
  • Translation
  • half past eight p.m. (or in the evening)
Questions about time
  • Translation
  • 🤔 What time is it? 👉 It is eleven.
  • Translation
  • 🤔 What time is it? 👉 It is half past eight.
  • Explanation
  • Possible meanings are 8:30 a.m. or 8:30 p.m. depending on the time of day when this sentence is said. In order to make it precise you can add morgens/abends (in the morning/evening).
  • Translation
  • 🤔 From what time is the supermarket open? 👉 The supermarket is open from eight.
  • Translation
  • 🤔 Since what time have you been home? 👉 I have been home since 2pm.
  • Translation
  • 🤔 Until what time can I order a pizza from you? 👉 Until 11pm.
  • Translation
  • 🤔 What time does our train leave? 👉 The train leaves at nine.
  • Explanation
  • We answer the question "at what time" with the preposition um (at)
X minutes to/past a given o'clock, half past
  • Translation
  • 10 past two
  • Translation
  • a quarter past two
  • Translation
  • half past two
  • Translation
  • quarter to three
  • Translation
  • ten to three