Time Expressions: um / ëm / am / e

Time Expressions: Um, Ëm, Am and E

Level 2

um aacht Auer or ëm aacht Auer (at eight o'clock), am Mäerz (in March), am Summer (in summer), e Samschdeg (on Saturday).

How It Works

Clock times: um or ëm
Both are correct and mean the same: um aacht Auer, ëm aacht Auer. To ask, say Ëm wéi vill Auer? Do not use op for at here. Op only appears inside a time, as in Véierel op néng (a quarter past nine). See telling the time.

Months and seasons: am
Months and most seasons are masculine, and Fréijoer (spring) is neuter. Both take dem in the dative, so an dem becomes am: am Mäerz, am Summer, am Fréijoer. Years work the same way with Joer: am Joer 2000. See months and seasons.

Days of the week: e
E before a day means the nearest one, coming or just past: Mir gesinn eis e Freideg (We will see each other on Friday), Mir hunn eis e Freideg gesinn (We saw each other on Friday). For every week, use the -s form: samschdes (on Saturdays), see days of the week and moies/mëttes/owes/nuets.

Holidays: op
Holidays take op: op Chrëschtdag (at Christmas).

No preposition
Many time words need no preposition at all: haut, muer, de Moien (this morning), den Owend (this evening). See haut/muer/gëschter.

Other time phrases
An + dative means in a length of time from now: an zwee Deeg. For ago, see virun (ago).

Examples (6)

  1. Mir treffen eis um aacht Auer op der Gare.

    We are meeting at eight o'clock at the station.

    Word by Word: We meet us at eight hour on the station.

    Um with a clock time means at.

  2. D'Schoul fänkt ëm aacht Auer un.

    School starts at eight o'clock.

    Word by Word: The school catches around eight hour on.

    Ëm means the same as um here.

  3. Ech sinn am Mäerz op d'Welt komm.

    I was born in March.

    Word by Word: I am in-the March onto the world come.

    Months take am.

  4. Am Summer ass op der Plage ëmmer vill Betrib.

    In summer the beach is always busy.

    Word by Word: In-the summer is on the beach always much bustle.

    Seasons take am. The time phrase comes first and the verb ass follows.

  5. Mir gesinn eis e Freideg.

    We will see each other on Friday.

    Word by Word: We see us a Friday.

    E Freideg means this coming Friday here.

  6. Op Chrëschtdag ass ëmmer eng feierlech a frou Stëmmung am Haus.

    At Christmas there is always a festive, happy mood in the house.

    Word by Word: On Christmas is always a festive and glad mood in-the house.

    Holidays take op.

Common Mistakes

  • Using an without the article for a month.

    Ech hunn an Abrëll Gebuertsdag.
    Ech hunn am Abrëll Gebuertsdag.

    Months and seasons take am (an dem): am Abrëll, am Summer.

  • Translating English at with op for a clock time.

    De Film fänkt op aacht Auer un.
    De Film fänkt um aacht Auer un.

    Clock times take um or ëm. Op only appears inside a time such as Véierel op néng.

  • Using e with a day for something that happens every week.

    E Samschdeg schlofen ech ëmmer laang.
    Samschdes schlofen ech ëmmer laang.

    The intended meaning is every Saturday. E Samschdeg means one particular Saturday; for a habit, use samschdes.

How It Connects

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Time Expressions: um / ëm / am / eLevel 2Time Expressions: Um, Ëm, Am and E

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Before Time Expressions: Um, Ëm, Am and E, learn Preposition and Article Contractions and Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday.

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ëmamen