German · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Time" in German: Zeit
die Zeit
Time in German is die Zeit, feminine. Hast du Zeit? asks if you are free. Clock time is often die Uhrzeit, and Wie spät ist es? asks what time it is.
Making plans
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How to pronounce Zeit
Say it
tsyte
/t͡saɪ̯t/
Tsyte. Z is "ts". Ei like "eye". One clear syllable.
"Time" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die Zeit | time Time as a resource or period. | Time as a resource or period. |
| Hast du Zeit? | Do you have time? Availability question. | Availability question. |
| die Uhrzeit | time of day / clock time Hours and minutes. | Hours and minutes. |
| keine Zeit haben | to have no time Common refusal. | Common refusal. |
How to use Zeit in real life
- 1Making plans
Hast du morgen Zeit?
Do you have time tomorrow?
Very common invitation opener.
- 2Feeling busy
Ich habe diese Woche keine Zeit.
I have no time this week.
Keine Zeit is the set negative.
- 3Philosophy joke
Die Zeit vergeht zu schnell.
Time passes too quickly.
Vergehen is the usual verb.
Mistakes English speakers make with Zeit
Incorrect: Was ist die Zeit?
Correct: Wie spät ist es? / Wie viel Uhr ist es?
To ask the clock time, use Wie spät ist es?, not a literal translation.
Incorrect: der Zeit
Correct: die Zeit
Zeit is feminine.
Good to know
Germans often value Pünktlichkeit (punctuality), so Zeit agreements are taken seriously. For clock reading, official style uses the 24-hour system in writing.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding a slot to practise German
ChatPal
Hast du heute Abend Zeit?
Do you have time this evening?
You
Nur wenig Zeit, aber ja.
Only a little time, but yes.
ChatPal
Dreißig Minuten Zeit reichen mir.
Thirty minutes of time is enough for me.
You
Gut. Dann nehmen wir uns die Zeit.
Good. Then we'll take the 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"Time" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Time" in German
How do you ask what time it is?
Wie spät ist es? or Wie viel Uhr ist es?
What is the difference between Zeit and Uhrzeit?
Zeit is time in general. Uhrzeit is clock time.
How do you say I don't have time?
Ich habe keine Zeit.
Is Zeit feminine?
Yes: die Zeit.
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
