die
Uhrzeit
⏰ What exactly is 'die Uhrzeit'?
The German word die Uhrzeit (feminine) means the specific time of day as indicated by a clock, usually given in hours and minutes (and sometimes seconds). It's the answer to questions like "Wie spät ist es?" (What time is it?) or "Um wie viel Uhr?" (At what time?).
Unlike the general term Zeit (time as duration or an abstract concept), die Uhrzeit always refers to a concrete point in time shown on a clock. 🕰️
Article rules for der, die, and das
Time → mostly feminine.
There are many exceptions, e.g. the entire category "Weekdays, months, seasons" (masculine/der).
🧐 Grammar: 'Die Uhrzeit' in Detail
Die Uhrzeit is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Uhrzeit | eine Uhrzeit |
| Genitive | der Uhrzeit | einer Uhrzeit |
| Dative | der Uhrzeit | einer Uhrzeit |
| Accusative | die Uhrzeit | eine Uhrzeit |
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Uhrzeiten | - Uhrzeiten |
| Genitive | der Uhrzeiten | - Uhrzeiten |
| Dative | den Uhrzeiten | - Uhrzeiten |
| Accusative | die Uhrzeiten | - Uhrzeiten |
Example Sentences
- Können Sie mir bitte die Uhrzeit sagen? (Could you please tell me the time?)
- Wir treffen uns um 15:00 Uhr. (We are meeting at 3:00 PM. - Note: Often only 'Uhr' is used with specific times, but it refers to 'die Uhrzeit'.)
- Die verschiedenen Uhrzeiten für die Abfahrt stehen auf dem Plan. (The different departure times are on the schedule.)
- Zu dieser Uhrzeit ist hier immer viel los. (At this time of day, it's always busy here.)
🗓️ When to use 'die Uhrzeit'?
You mainly use die Uhrzeit in these contexts:
- Asking for the time: "Entschuldigung, wissen Sie zufällig die Uhrzeit?" (Excuse me, do you happen to know the time?)
- Stating a specific time: "Die Besprechung beginnt um 10:00 Uhr." (The meeting starts at 10:00 AM. - Here, 'Uhrzeit' is implied in 'Uhr'.)
- Referring to a time of day: "Um diese Uhrzeit schlafe ich normalerweise schon." (At this time of day, I'm usually already asleep.)
- Difference from 'Zeit': While die Zeit often means time in general or a duration (e.g., "Ich habe keine Zeit." - "I don't have time."), die Uhrzeit always means the time on the clock.
⚠️ Don't confuse die Uhrzeit with die Stunde (hour, duration of 60 minutes) or die Zeit (general term for time).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Uhrzeit'
Article Mnemonic: Think of a grand mother clock - she (feminine 'die') tells you die Uhrzeit.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of Uhr (clock) and Zeit (time). So, die Uhrzeit is literally the 'clock time' - the specific time shown by the clock.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Zeitangabe: Indication of time (often used synonymously).
- Zeitpunkt: Point in time, moment.
Antonyms (Opposite Concept)
Similar Words:
😄 A Little Time Joke
German: Warum nehmen Uhrmacher immer eine Leiter mit zur Arbeit?
Damit sie an die HOHEN Uhrzeiten kommen! 😂
English Translation: Why do watchmakers always take a ladder to work?
So they can reach the HIGH times! (Pun on 'hohe Uhrzeiten' sounding like 'high times' and meaning 'late hours' or literally 'high clock times')
📜 Poem about Time
German:
Die Uhr tickt fort, Sekunde um Sekunde,
vermeldet klar zu jeder Stunde,
was auf dem Zifferblatt grad steht,
damit kein Termin vergeht.
Ob früh am Morgen, spät zur Nacht,
die Uhrzeit hat stets Acht.
Sie sagt dir: "Jetzt!", nicht "Irgendwann",
damit fängt jeder Plan gut an.
English Translation:
The clock ticks on, second by second,
announces clearly every hour,
what's currently on the dial,
so no appointment is passed over.
Whether early morning, late at night,
the time of day always pays attention right.
It tells you: "Now!", not "Sometime soon",
so every plan starts well beneath the moon.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich habe Zeiger, doch keine Hände.
Ich sage dir, wann der Tag zu Ende.
Ich laufe immer, doch hab keine Füße.
Man fragt nach mir für Termine, süße.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I have hands, but no arms to lend.
I tell you when the day will end.
I always run, but have no feet.
You ask for me for times to meet.
What am I?
Solution: die Uhrzeit (the time of day) or die Uhr (the clock)
🧩 More about 'die Uhrzeit'
Word Composition:
The word Uhrzeit is a compound noun, made up of:
Together they form the specific meaning: the time indicated by the clock.
Trivia: In Germany, the 24-hour clock (24-Stunden-Zählung) is common in formal contexts (timetables, official appointments), while the 12-hour clock with additions like 'morgens' (in the morning), 'mittags' (at noon), 'abends' (in the evening) is often used in everyday conversation (e.g., "halb drei nachmittags" - "half past two in the afternoon").
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Uhrzeit?
The German word for the time of day shown on a clock, Uhrzeit, uses the feminine article: die Uhrzeit. The plural is die Uhrzeiten.