How to Tell Time in German
German actually has two different systems for telling time — and knowing which one to use makes daily conversations far easier. In this lesson, we cover the formal way of telling time (used on the radio, TV, and schedules) and the informal way used in everyday conversation, plus when to use each one.
Formal Time: Simple and Literal
Formal time reads the clock exactly as shown, 24-hour style, and is the easiest system for beginners: 14:00 Uhr = vierzehn Uhr, 14:30 Uhr = vierzehn Uhr dreißig, 09:15 Uhr = neun Uhr fünfzehn. This is the system used in train schedules, TV programs, and radio announcements. If your numbers need a refresh first, see our guides to numbers 1–20 and numbers 20–100.
Informal Time: How Germans Actually Talk
Everyday spoken German uses a 12-hour system built around the half hour: halb (half) actually refers to the half before the hour, not after — halb drei means 2:30, not 3:30. Quarters use viertel: viertel nach (quarter past) and viertel vor (quarter to): viertel nach zwei = 2:15, viertel vor drei = 2:45.
Asking and Answering “What Time Is It?”
To ask: Wie spät ist es? or Wie viel Uhr ist es? To answer, start with Es ist...: Es ist zehn Uhr. (formal) or Es ist halb elf. (informal, = 10:30). Beginners are usually safer starting with the formal system since it maps directly onto the numbers you already know.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two ways to tell time in German?
A formal system that reads the clock literally (used on TV, radio, and schedules) and an informal system used in everyday spoken conversation.
What does “halb drei” mean in German?
2:30 — halb refers to the half hour before the stated hour, not after, which is the opposite of what English speakers often expect.
How do you say “quarter past” and “quarter to” in German?
Viertel nach (quarter past) and viertel vor (quarter to), e.g. viertel nach zwei (2:15) and viertel vor drei (2:45).
How do you ask “what time is it?” in German?
Wie spät ist es? or Wie viel Uhr ist es?
Which time system should beginners start with?
The formal system, since it maps directly onto the numbers you already know and avoids the halb/viertel adjustments needed for informal time.
Ready to put numbers and time together in real conversations? Start with our A1 German course.
