German Numbers & Time: How to Make Your First Appointment

Practical Survival: Numbers, Time, and Making Appointments

As an expat in Germany, your life will revolve around “Termine” (appointments). Whether you are booking a slot at the Bürgeramt, visiting a doctor, or simply shopping for groceries, you need to master German numbers and time. While many Germans speak English, being able to understand a price or a time slot in German will make your daily life much smoother and show your commitment to integration.

In this lesson, we will cover the logic of German numbers, the difference between formal and informal time, and the essential phrases you need to order food or services politely.

1. German Numbers: The Building Blocks

German numbers follow a logical pattern, but there is a famous “twist” once you get past 20. For now, let’s focus on 0-20, which are the most common numbers you’ll hear at a checkout counter or when giving your phone number.

Number	German	Number	German
1	eins	11	elf
2	zwei	12	zwölf
3	drei	13	dreizehn
4	vier	14	vierzehn
5	fünf	15	fünfzehn

Expat Tip: Note that 13 through 19 are formed by saying the smaller number + zehn (ten). For example, 16 is sechzehn (dropping the ‘s’ from sechs) and 17 is siebzehn (dropping the ‘en’ from sieben).

2. Telling Time (Die Uhrzeit)

Germany uses the 24-hour clock (military time) for almost everything official: train schedules, store hours, and doctor appointments. In casual conversation, the 12-hour clock is common.

Formal Time (Official)

Used at the bank, work, or airport. You simply say the hour, then the word “Uhr”, then the minutes.

• 08:30 -> Acht Uhr dreißig
• 15:15 -> Fünfzehn Uhr fünfzehn
• 20:00 -> Zwanzig Uhr

Informal Time (Casual)

Used with friends. Beware of the word “halb” (half). In German, “halb” means halfway to the next hour.

• Halb acht: Means 7:30 (Halfway to eight). This is the #1 mistake for English speakers!
• Viertel nach: Quarter past. (e.g., Viertel nach acht = 8:15).
• Viertel vor: Quarter to. (e.g., Viertel vor acht = 7:45).

3. Ordering Politely: “Ich hätte gerne”

When you go to a bakery or a café, never say “Ich will” (I want). It is considered very blunt. Instead, use the polite conditional form: “Ich hätte gerne…” (I would like to have…).

Key Vocabulary for Ordering:

• Einen Kaffee: A coffee (Masc. Akkusativ – we will cover this next lesson!)
• Ein Wasser: A water
• Die Rechnung, bitte: The bill, please.
• Zahlen, bitte: To pay, please.
• Mit Karte / Bar: With card / Cash.

4. Days of the Week and Appointments

All days of the week are Masculine (Der). When you want to say “on Monday,” use the preposition “Am”.

German Day	English Day	Usage Example
Montag	Monday	Am Montag um 10 Uhr.
Mittwoch	Wednesday	Mittwoch ist ein Termin.
Freitag	Friday	Schönes Wochenende!

5. Practical Exercise

A. Write the following times in the formal (official) German way:

1. 09:45 -> __________________
2. 14:10 -> __________________
3. 22:30 -> __________________

B. Translate to German (Polite):

1. I would like a tea, please.
2. The appointment is on Tuesday at 11:00.
3. What time is it? (Wie spät ist es?)

Lesson Summary Checklist

[ ] I can count from 1 to 20 in German.
[ ] I understand the difference between 24-hour official time and casual time.
[ ] I know that “Halb” refers to the next hour (Halb 9 = 8:30).
[ ] I can order food or drink politely using “Ich hätte gerne.”
[ ] I know the days of the week and how to use them with “Am”.