German uses two parallel clock systems: a crisp 24-hour official clock for train timetables, broadcasts, appointments, and formal writing, and a 12-hour colloquial clock for everyday conversation with friends and family. Mastering both—along with the three time prepositions um, am, im—keeps you on time everywhere in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Asking the Time
- Wie spät ist es? (Literally: “How late is it?” — the most common everyday question)
- Wie viel Uhr ist es? (“What o’clock is it?” — identical meaning)
- Entschuldigung, wissen Sie, wie spät es ist? (Polite question to a stranger)
Official 24-Hour Clock (Offizielle Uhrzeit)
In announcements, Deutsche Bahn schedules, business hours, and doctor appointments, German puts Uhr between the hour and the minutes:
- 08:15: acht Uhr fünfzehn
- 14:30: vierzehn Uhr dreißig
- 17:45: siebzehn Uhr fünfundvierzig
- 20:00: zwanzig Uhr (just Uhr, no null null)
- 00:05: null Uhr fünf
Notice there is no AM or PM in the 24-hour clock: 08:00 is morning, 20:00 is evening.
Colloquial 12-Hour Clock (Umgangssprachliche Uhrzeit)
In casual speech, Germans drop the 24-hour numbers, omit Uhr (except on the full hour), and measure minutes relative to the hour or the half-hour:
| Digital | German Expression | Literal Logic |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | Es ist drei (Uhr). | It is three (o’clock). |
| 3:05 | fünf nach drei | five past three |
| 3:15 | Viertel nach drei | quarter past three |
| 3:20 | zwanzig nach drei / zehn vor halb vier | twenty past three / ten before half-four |
| 3:25 | fünf vor halb vier | five before half-four |
| 3:30 | halb vier | halfway TO four (3:30!) |
| 3:35 | fünf nach halb vier | five past half-four |
| 3:40 | zwanzig vor vier / zehn nach halb vier | twenty to four / ten past half-four |
| 3:45 | Viertel vor vier | quarter to four |
| 3:55 | fünf vor vier | five to four |
Critical Trap: halb vier = 3:30, never 4:30! Always think: halb + [the NEXT hour].
Regional Note: In eastern and parts of southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, you will also hear viertel vier (3:15 — “a quarter of the fourth hour”) and dreiviertel vier (3:45 — “three-quarters of the fourth hour”). Knowing Viertel nach / Viertel vor is understood everywhere, and recognizing dreiviertel prevents missed meetups!
Days, Months, Seasons & Time Prepositions
Every day of the week, month, and season in German is masculine (der).
- Days (der): Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag (Sonnabend in northern/eastern Germany), Sonntag
- Months (der): Januar (Jänner in Austria), Februar, März, April, Mai, Juni, Juli, August, September, Oktober, November, Dezember
- Seasons (der): der Frühling (spring), der Sommer (summer), der Herbst (autumn), der Winter (winter)
The Three Essential Time Prepositions: um, am, im
| Time Unit | Preposition | Examples | Habitual / Plural Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exact clock time | um | um 8 Uhr, um halb vier, um Mitternacht | — |
| Days & parts of day | am (an + dem) | am Montag, am Wochenende, am Morgen | montags (on Mondays), morgens (in the mornings) |
| Night (exception!) | in der | in der Nacht (at night) | nachts (at night in general) |
| Months, seasons & years | im (in + dem) | im Januar, im Sommer, im Jahr 2026 | 2026 (years alone need no preposition: Ich bin 2026 nach Berlin gezogen.) |
Writing and Reading Dates
German dates strictly follow Day.Month.Year (TT.MM.JJJJ) with periods:
- Written:
25.12.2026or25. Dezember 2026 - Question “What’s the date today?”: Welches Datum ist heute? → Heute ist der fünfundzwanzigste Dezember. (Nominative:
-te/-ste) - Question “When is the appointment?”: Wann ist der Termin? → Am fünfundzwanzigsten Dezember. (Dative after am:
-ten/-sten) - Letter / email dateline: München, den 8. September 2026 (Accusative den achten September)
Test any clock time or date phrase interactively in our German Number & Time Converter.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Showing up at 4:30 for halb vier | Reading halb vier as “4 and a half” | Subtract half an hour from the named number: halb vier = 3:30. |
| Saying *im Montag or *am Januar | Mixing English in / on | Remember: um = clock time, am = days/dates (am = an dem), im = months/seasons (im = in dem). |
Writing *in 2026 (Im 2026) |
Direct translation of English “in 2026” | Use either 2026 alone (2026 fahre ich nach Wien) or im Jahr 2026. |
| Writing *am Nacht | Treating die Nacht like masculine der Morgen / der Abend | Because die Nacht is feminine, use in der Nacht. |