Informal Time Expressions

Level 2

Informal German time is spoken, uses 1–12, and focuses on the next hour. Key words: nach (past), vor (to), Viertel (quarter), and halb (halfway to).

How It Works

In everyday conversation, Germans use a 12-hour system.

Asking for the Time:
To ask what time it is, use either Wie spät ist es? (How late is it?) or Wie viel Uhr ist es?.

1. The Half-Hour (halb):
This is the biggest trap for English speakers. In German, halb means 'halfway to'.
• halb zwei = 1:30 (halfway to two)
• halb elf = 10:30 (halfway to eleven)

2. Quarters (Viertel):
• Viertel nach: Quarter past (e.g., Viertel nach eins = 1:15)
• Viertel vor: Quarter to (e.g., Viertel vor eins = 12:45)

3. Minutes (vor/nach):
Use numbers up to 20 or 25 with vor (before) or nach (after).
• fünf nach zehn = 10:05
• zwanzig nach acht = 8:20
• zehn vor acht = 7:50

4. Approximate Times (kurz vor/nach/gleich):
For times just a few minutes before or after the hour, use kurz vor (shortly before) or kurz nach (shortly after). You can also use gleich (almost) for times just before the hour.
• kurz nach acht = 8:02
• kurz vor neun = 8:58
• gleich acht = almost 8:00

5. The Half-Hour Anchor:
For times close to the half-hour mark, Germans use halb as the reference point. While fünf vor/nach halb (:25 and :35) is standard everywhere, using zehn vor/nach halb (:20 and :40) is a regional variation (mostly in the South and East). Standard German typically uses zwanzig nach/vor for the 20- and 40-minute marks.
• fünf vor halb neun = 8:25 (five before half-to-nine)
• fünf nach halb neun = 8:35 (five after half-to-nine)
• zehn vor halb neun = 8:20 (regional for zwanzig nach acht)
• zehn nach halb neun = 8:40 (regional for zwanzig vor neun)

6. The 'One' Rule:
When it is exactly 1:00, say Es ist eins. If you use the word Uhr, it becomes ein Uhr. In relative time, it is always eins (e.g., Viertel nach eins).

7. Time of Day Qualifiers:
Because the informal system uses 12 hours, you can add qualifiers like morgens (mornings), vormittags (late mornings), mittags (at noon/midday), nachmittags (afternoons), abends (evenings), or nachts (nights) to avoid ambiguity.
• drei Uhr nachmittags = 3:00 PM
• acht Uhr abends = 8:00 PM

8. Saying 'At' a Certain Time (um):
To say that an event happens at a specific time, use the preposition um. For example: Der Zug fährt um halb acht (The train leaves at 7:30).

9. Regional Variations:
In Southern and Eastern Germany, you might hear Viertel drei (2:15) or Dreiviertel drei (2:45). This treats the hour like a cake being filled up. Note: While common in these regions, Viertel nach/vor is the standard form understood everywhere.

Examples (5)

  1. Es ist Viertel nach acht.

    It is quarter past eight.

    Word by Word: It is quarter after eight.

    Uses 'Viertel nach' for :15. Note that 'Uhr' is omitted in informal speech.

  2. Wir treffen uns um halb fünf.

    We are meeting at four-thirty.

    Word by Word: We meet us at half five.

    'Halb fünf' means halfway to five, which is 4:30.

  3. Es ist fünf vor halb neun.

    It is 8:25.

    Word by Word: It is five before half nine.

    Germans often relate minutes to the half-hour mark. 5 minutes before 8:30 is 8:25.

  4. Der Film beginnt um Viertel vor neun.

    The movie starts at quarter to nine.

    Word by Word: The film begins at quarter before nine.

    Use 'Viertel vor' for :45.

  5. Es ist zehn nach eins.

    It is ten past one.

    Word by Word: It is ten after one.

    When referring to 1:00 without the word 'Uhr', use 'eins'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'halb' like the English 'half past'.

    Es ist halb zwei. (Thinking it is 2:30)
    Es ist halb drei.

    In German, 'halb' always points to the next hour. 'Halb zwei' is 1:30. To say 2:30, you must say 'halb drei' (halfway to three).

  • Adding the word 'Uhr' to relative time expressions.

    Es ist Viertel vor vier Uhr.
    Es ist Viertel vor vier.

    In informal time (using vor/nach/halb), the word 'Uhr' is usually dropped. It is only mandatory in formal 24-hour time.

  • Using 24-hour numbers with informal prepositions.

    Es ist halb fünfzehn.
    Es ist halb drei.

    Informal time only uses the 12-hour clock. You should never use numbers higher than 12 with 'halb', 'vor', or 'nach'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Informal Time ExpressionsLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn informal time expressions, you first need a solid grasp of German cardinal numbers (1-12) and the basic concept of telling time. Informal German time uses a 12-hour cycle and specific relative markers like 'halb' (half) and 'viertel' (quarter) which build upon the standard time-telling foundation.

Words in This Pattern

halbViertelviertel