die
Dreiviertelstunde
⏳ What exactly is a 'Dreiviertelstunde'?
The German word Dreiviertelstunde is a unit of time corresponding to 45 minutes. As the name suggests, it literally means three-quarters (drei Viertel) of an hour (Stunde).
It's a compound noun formed from:
Because the base word 'Stunde' is feminine (die Stunde), 'Dreiviertelstunde' is also feminine: die Dreiviertelstunde.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
Time → mostly feminine.
There are many exceptions, e.g. the entire category "Weekdays, months, seasons" (masculine/der).
🧐 Grammar: Always 'die' Dreiviertelstunde
The word 'Dreiviertelstunde' is a feminine noun. The plural ('Dreiviertelstunden') is rarely used, as longer periods are usually expressed differently (e.g., 'zwei Stunden und 15 Minuten' - two hours and 15 minutes - instead of 'drei Dreiviertelstunden').
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Dreiviertelstunde | eine Dreiviertelstunde |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Dreiviertelstunde | einer Dreiviertelstunde |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Dreiviertelstunde | einer Dreiviertelstunde |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Dreiviertelstunde | eine Dreiviertelstunde |
Example Sentences
- Der Zug hat eine Dreiviertelstunde Verspätung.
(The train is three-quarters of an hour late / has a 45-minute delay.) - Ich brauche noch etwa eine Dreiviertelstunde, bis ich fertig bin.
(I still need about three-quarters of an hour until I'm finished.) - Wir treffen uns in einer Dreiviertelstunde am Eingang.
(We'll meet at the entrance in three-quarters of an hour / in 45 minutes.) - Die Präsentation dauerte genau eine Dreiviertelstunde.
(The presentation lasted exactly three-quarters of an hour.)
🗣️ How to Use 'Dreiviertelstunde'
'Dreiviertelstunde' is commonly used in spoken German and informal contexts to specify a duration of 45 minutes.
- Duration: "Der Kuchen muss eine Dreiviertelstunde backen." (The cake needs to bake for three-quarters of an hour.)
- Point in the future: "Ich rufe dich in einer Dreiviertelstunde zurück." (I'll call you back in 45 minutes.)
Compared to saying '45 Minuten' (45 minutes), 'Dreiviertelstunde' often sounds more natural and colloquial in everyday conversation. In very formal or technical contexts, specifying the exact minutes ('45 Minuten') might be preferred.
⚠️ Be careful not to say 'drei Viertel Stunden' when you mean this specific time unit. The compound word 'Dreiviertelstunde' is the correct term.
🧠 Mnemonics for Dreiviertelstunde
Article Mnemonic: Remember that 'hour' in German is die Stunde. Since 'Stunde' is feminine, the compound word Dreiviertelstunde inherits this gender – making it die Dreiviertelstunde.
Meaning Mnemonic: Picture a clock face representing one 'Stunde'. It has four quarters ('Viertel'). For a 'Dreiviertelstunde', you simply need three ('drei') of these quarters ('Viertel'). 3 x 15 = 45 minutes.
🔄 Related and Contrasting Terms
Synonyms
- 45 Minuten: The direct equivalent in minutes. (e.g., "Der Film dauert 45 Minuten." - The movie lasts 45 minutes.)
Antonyms (Other Time Units)
- Viertelstunde: Quarter of an hour (15 minutes).
- halbe Stunde: Half an hour (30 minutes).
- Stunde: Hour (60 minutes).
😄 A Little Time Joke
Teacher asks: "Wenn du 5 Euro findest und dein Freund bittet dich um die Hälfte, wie viel gibst du ihm?"
Student: "Gar nichts!"
Teacher: "Du kannst wohl nicht teilen?"
Student: "Doch, aber ich habe das Geld eine Dreiviertelstunde vorher gefunden!"
Translation:
Teacher asks: "If you find 5 Euros and your friend asks for half, how much do you give him?"
Student: "Nothing!"
Teacher: "Can't you share?"
Student: "Yes, but I found the money three-quarters of an hour before he asked!"
📜 Poem About Waiting
Die Uhr tickt fort, Minute um Minute,
Eine Dreiviertelstunde, eine Bitte:
Sei doch pünktlich, lass mich nicht hier stehen,
Drei Viertel nur, bis wir uns wiedersehen.Fünfundvierzig zählt der Zeiger still,
Bald ist die Zeit, so wie ich es will.
Translation:
The clock ticks on, minute by minute,
Three-quarters of an hour, a plea:
Be punctual, don't leave me standing here,
Just three quarters until we meet again, my dear.
Forty-five the hand counts silently,
Soon it's time, just as I want it to be.
❓ Time Riddle
Ich bin nicht ganz, doch mehr als halb,
Drei Teile brauch ich auf der Skal'.
Man nutzt mich oft im Alltagslauf,
Nach mir kommt bald die Stunde drauf.
Wer bin ich?
... Die Dreiviertelstunde
Translation:
I'm not whole, but more than half,
Three parts I need upon the graph (dial).
I'm often used in daily life,
Soon after me, the hour is rife.
What am I?
... Three-quarters of an hour (die Dreiviertelstunde)
🧩 Word Composition
The word 'Dreiviertelstunde' is a nice example of German word compounding (Kompositum):
- drei: Number (three)
- Viertel: Fraction (quarter), here part of an hour
- Stunde: Unit of time (hour) - the base word, determines the gender
Together, they form a precise yet common way to state this duration.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Dreiviertelstunde?
The word 'Dreiviertelstunde' is feminine because its base word 'Stunde' (hour) is feminine. Therefore, the correct article is always die Dreiviertelstunde.