Numbers, time and connecting ideas
Clock time, calendars and appointment dates
Official-style time: vierzehn Uhr dreißig = 14:30. Everyday halb drei means 2:30, half an hour before three, not 3:30. Viertel nach zwei = 2:15; Viertel vor drei = 2:45.
Regional quarter-hour forms exist; the foregoing forms are a clear starting point. Um wie viel Uhr? asks at what time.
Use um with clock time, am with a day/date, im with a month/season, and generally no preposition before the year alone: um neun Uhr, am Montag, am dritten Mai, im Januar, im Sommer, 2027.
Ordinals mostly use -t up to 19 and -st from 20; important irregular stems include erst-, dritt-, siebt-/siebent-, acht-. Date endings change in context: Heute ist der dritte Mai; am dritten Mai.
- Example
- Der Termin ist am Dienstag um halb zehn.
- English
- The appointment is on Tuesday at 9:30.
- Hinglish
- Appointment Tuesday ko saadhe nau baje hai.
am einundzwanzigsten Oktober um sechzehn Uhr fünfzehn = on 21 October at 16:15.
Hinglish: Ikkees October ko shaam sawa chaar baje.