German · Time, Numbers & Colors
"On time" in German: pünktlich
pünktlich
On time in German is pünktlich. Say Du bist pünktlich or Der Zug war pünktlich. Opposite: unpünktlich / Verspätung.
Meeting start
Danke, dass du pünktlich bist.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pünktlich
Say it
PUENKT-likh
/ˈpʏŋktlɪç/
PUENKT-likh. Ü rounded; soft ch ending.
"On time" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| pünktlich | on time / punctual Core adjective/adverb. | Core adjective/adverb. |
| pünktlich sein | to be on time With sein. | With sein. |
| sehr pünktlich | very punctual Praise. | Praise. |
| unpünktlich | not on time Opposite. | Opposite. |
How to use pünktlich in real life
- 1Meeting start
Danke, dass du pünktlich bist.
Thanks for being on time.
Person.
- 2Train board
Wunder: der ICE war pünktlich.
Wonder: the ICE was on time.
Transport.
- 3Theatre doors
Bitte pünktlich um 19:30 da sein.
Please be there on time at 7:30 p.m.
Event.
Mistakes English speakers make with pünktlich
Incorrect: on time (in German sentence)
Correct: pünktlich
Use pünktlich, not English on time.
Incorrect: punktlich ohne Umlaut
Correct: pünktlich
Needs ü: pünktlich.
Good to know
Pünktlichkeit is a cultural badge in German work life. Arriving five minutes early often counts as pünktlich; ten late needs a message.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching a regional train
ChatPal
Gleis 4 schon voll.
Platform 4 already full.
You
Sind wir pünktlich genug?
Are we on time enough?
ChatPal
Ja, drei Minuten Puffer.
Yes, three minutes buffer.
You
Gut — heute bleiben wir pünktlich.
Good — today we'll stay on time.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"On time" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "On time" in German
How do you say on time?
Pünktlich.
He is on time?
Er ist pünktlich.
Opposite?
Unpünktlich or zu spät.
Train delay word?
Verspätung.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
