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How to Say ‘I'm late.’ in German

Ich bin zu spät.

ikh bin tsoo shpeht

[ikh bin tsoo shpeht]

💬 Usage Tip: German says "I am too late": zu spät literally means "too late". Without zu, ich bin spät sounds off to a German ear.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich bin

ikh bin

I am

Subject 'ich' plus 'bin', the first-person form of 'sein' (to be). The 'ch' in 'ich' is a soft hissing sound, like a whispered 'h' with the tongue raised.

Example

Ich bin müde.

I am tired.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

bin

[bin]

First-person singular form of 'sein' meaning 'to be.'

Example

Beim Kennenlernen sage ich: Ich bin neu hier.

When meeting people I say: I am new here.

zu spät.

tsoo shpeht

too late / late

'zu' means 'too' and 'spät' means 'late'. Together they mean 'late' for an appointment. The 'sp' at the start of a word sounds like 'shp'.

Example

Der Bus kommt zu spät.

The bus is coming late.

Words in this phrase

[tsoo]

too

Used to show excess, meaning more than is acceptable.

Example

Es ist zu spät für laute Musik.

It is too late for loud music.

spät

[shpeht]

late

After the expected or usual time.

Example

Es ist spät am Abend.

It is late in the evening.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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