24-Hour Time

Level 2

The 24-hour clock (00:00–23:59) is the standard for all official and written time in Germany. It follows a simple linear structure: [Hour] + Uhr + [Minutes].

How It Works

In German, the 24-hour clock is known as die offizielle Uhrzeit. It is used to avoid ambiguity in formal settings.

1. Structure:
The pattern is strictly: [Hour] + Uhr + [Minutes].
Example: 14:30 is spoken as vierzehn Uhr dreißig. For full hours (e.g., 14:00), the word Uhr is mandatory: vierzehn Uhr.

2. The 'One' Rule:
Whenever the number 1 (eins) is followed immediately by the word Uhr, it drops the 's' and becomes ein. This applies whether it is a full hour or followed by minutes:
• 01:00 = ein Uhr
• 01:45 = ein Uhr fünfundvierzig

3. Midnight (00:00):
In the official system, midnight is expressed using the word null (zero).
• 00:00 = null Uhr
• 00:15 = null Uhr fünfzehn

4. No AM/PM Markers:
Because the 24-hour system clearly distinguishes between morning and evening, markers like morgens (in the morning) or abends (in the evening) are redundant and should not be used.

5. Usage Contexts:
While you might use informal clock expressions with friends, you must use the 24-hour system for:

  • Public transport and flight schedules
  • Radio and television broadcasts
  • Official business appointments
  • Store opening hours

6. Prepositions:
To say 'at' a specific time, always use the preposition um.

Examples (5)

  1. Der Zug fährt um siebzehn Uhr zweiundvierzig ab.

    The train departs at 17:42 (5:42 PM).

    Word by Word: The train drives at seventeen clock forty-two away.

    This shows the standard formal way to announce a departure time using the 24-hour format.

  2. Das Meeting beginnt um neun Uhr fünfzehn.

    The meeting begins at 9:15 AM.

    Word by Word: The meeting begins at nine clock fifteen.

    Even for morning times, the word 'Uhr' is placed between the hour and the minutes.

  3. Es ist jetzt genau ein Uhr fünfzehn.

    It is exactly 01:15 (1:15 AM).

    Word by Word: It is now exactly one clock fifteen.

    Note that 'eins' becomes 'ein' whenever it is followed by 'Uhr', even if minutes follow.

  4. Die Nachrichten kommen um zwanzig Uhr.

    The news comes on at 20:00 (8:00 PM).

    Word by Word: The news come at twenty clock.

    For full hours, the word 'Uhr' is mandatory in the official system.

  5. Wir treffen uns um null Uhr dreißig.

    We are meeting at 00:30 (12:30 AM).

    Word by Word: We meet us at zero clock thirty.

    Midnight and the first hour of the day use 'null' in the 24-hour system.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'Uhr' at the end of the spoken phrase.

    Es ist vierzehn dreißig Uhr.
    Es ist vierzehn Uhr dreißig.

    In the 24-hour system, 'Uhr' acts as the separator between hours and minutes when speaking.

  • Mixing 24-hour numbers with informal modifiers like 'halb'.

    Es ist halb fünfzehn.
    Es ist vierzehn Uhr dreißig.

    Modifiers like 'halb' (half) or 'Viertel' (quarter) are only used with the 12-hour system (1-12).

  • Using the wrong preposition for 'at'.

    Der Film startet an zwanzig Uhr.
    Der Film startet um zwanzig Uhr.

    German uses 'um' for specific clock times, never 'an' or 'zu'.

How It Connects

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24-Hour TimeLevel 2

Learn This First

To use the 24-hour digital time format, you must be comfortable with German cardinal numbers up to 59 and understand the basic placement of the word 'Uhr' in time expressions.

Words in This Pattern