die  Uhr

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/uːɐ̯/

🕰️ What exactly does "die Uhr" mean?

The German word die Uhr has two primary meanings:

• The timepiece: This refers to any device that shows the time, like a Armbanduhr (wristwatch), a Wanduhr (wall clock), or a Standuhr (grandfather clock).
• The time (in the expression "... Uhr"): It's used to indicate a specific hour of the day, similar to the English "o'clock".

Since the word only takes the article "die", it is grammatically feminine.

🧐 Grammar of "die Uhr" in Detail

"Die Uhr" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

• Meaning 1 (Timepiece): Meine neue Uhr ist sehr schön.
  (My new watch is very beautiful.)
• Meaning 1 (Timepiece): Die Uhren in diesem Geschäft sind teuer.
  (The clocks/watches in this shop are expensive.)
• Meaning 2 (O'clock): Es ist genau drei Uhr.
  (It is exactly three o'clock.)
• Meaning 2 (O'clock): Der Zug fährt um 15 Uhr ab.
  (The train departs at 3 PM / 15:00 o'clock.)

💡 Using "die Uhr" Correctly

Using "die Uhr" is quite straightforward:

• As a timepiece: Talk about a specific clock or watch (Armbanduhr, Wanduhr, etc.). Example: "Ich habe meine Uhr zu Hause vergessen." (I forgot my watch at home.)
• As a time indicator ('o'clock'): Always used with a number to state the full hour. Use the preposition "um" for points in time. Example: "Wir treffen uns um 14 Uhr." (We are meeting at 2 PM / 14:00 o'clock.)

Important Distinction: Don't confuse "die Uhr" (point in time, device) with "die Stunde" (duration of 60 minutes). Example: "Das Meeting dauert eine Stunde und beginnt um 10 Uhr." (The meeting lasts one hour and starts at 10 o'clock.)

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Uhr"

For the article 'die': Think of telling time as a precise, ordered thing, often associated stereotypically with feminine attention to detail (die Frau). Or remember: die Zeit (time) ends similarly. This helps link die Uhr to its feminine gender.

For the meaning: Imagine looking at your wristwatch (Armbanduhr) and saying: "Oh, it's already three o'clock!" (drei Uhr!). The word itself, "Uhr", might even sound a bit like the ticking: "Oohr, oohr, oohr..." linking it to the sound of a clock.

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

Synonyms (for Timepiece)

• Der Zeitmesser: (The time measuring device) - A more general, somewhat formal term.
• Die Armbanduhr: (The wristwatch) - Specifically a watch worn on the wrist.
• Die Wanduhr: (The wall clock) - Specifically a clock for the wall.
• Der Wecker: (The alarm clock) - A clock with an alarm function.

Synonyms (for "... Uhr")

There are no direct synonyms for the time expression "... Uhr" (o'clock); it's the standard way to express it.

Antonyms

Direct antonyms are difficult. In the context of time duration, one might consider:

• Die Ewigkeit: (Eternity) - The opposite of a specific point in time.

Related Terms (Beware of Confusion!)

• Die Stunde: (The hour) - A duration of 60 minutes (not the point in time "Uhr").
• Die Zeit: (Time) - The general concept of time.

😂 A Little Time-Related Joke

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Fritzchen, warum kommst du schon wieder zu spät?" Sagt Fritzchen: "Wegen dem Schild da draußen." Lehrer: "Was für ein Schild?" Fritzchen: "Da steht: 'Achtung, Schule! Langsam fahren!'"

English: The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, why are you late again?" Fritzchen says: "Because of the sign outside." Teacher: "What sign?" Fritzchen: "It says: 'Attention, School! Drive slowly!'"

(Okay, not directly about 'die Uhr', but about punctuality!)

📜 Poem about the Clock

German:
Tick, tack, an der Wand,
Die Uhr hält die Zeit in der Hand.
Mal schnell, mal langsam geht ihr Lauf,
Nimmt Stunden und Minuten auf.

Zeigt an, wann Tag und Nacht beginnt,
Ein steter Takt, der nie zerrinnt.
Ob digital, ob mit Gesicht,
Die Uhr vergisst die Zeit uns nicht.

English Translation:
Tick, tock, on the wall,
The clock holds time in its thrall (lit: in its hand).
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow its pace,
It gathers hours and minutes in place.

Shows when day and night begin,
A steady rhythm, never thin.
Whether digital or with a face,
The clock won't forget time's trace.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich habe ein Gesicht, aber keine Augen.
Ich habe Zeiger, aber keine Hände.
Ich sage dir die Zeit, Tag und Nacht.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: die Uhr

English Translation:
I have a face, but no eyes.
I have pointers (hands), but no hands.
I tell you the time, day and night.

What am I?

Answer: the clock / die Uhr

🧩 Additional Insights about die Uhr

• Etymology: The word "Uhr" derives from the Latin word "hora", meaning "hour".
• Compound Words: "Uhr" forms part of many compound German words, e.g., Armbanduhr (wristwatch), Wanduhr (wall clock), Kirchturmuhr (church tower clock), Sonnenuhr (sundial), Sanduhr (hourglass), Atomuhr (atomic clock), Bahnhofsuhr (station clock).
• Idioms: "Die innere Uhr" (the inner clock / biological clock), "rund um die Uhr" (around the clock / 24 hours a day), "jemandes letzte Uhr hat geschlagen" (someone's final hour has struck / they will die soon).