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How to Say ‘It is half past two. (2:30)’ in German

Es ist halb drei.

es ist halp dry

[es ist halp dry]

💬 Usage Tip: halb points forward to the next hour: halb drei means halfway to three, so 2:30. halb acht is 7:30, not 8:30.

🇩🇪 In Germany: This is a classic source of missed appointments for English speakers. If in doubt, confirm with digits, such as vierzehn Uhr dreißig.

Phrase Breakdown

Es ist

es ist

It is

The standard opening for telling the time.

Example

Es ist zehn Uhr.

It is ten o'clock.

Words in this phrase

[es]

A neutral pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

Es ist ein schöner Tag.

It is a beautiful day.

ist

[ist]

A form of the verb 'sein' used for singular subjects.

Example

Für viele Bewerber Ist ein gutes Teamklima entscheidend.

For many applicants, a good team climate is crucial.

halb drei.

halp dry

half past two (2:30)

'halb drei' means half way TO three, so 2:30. 'halb' ends in a 'p' sound: 'halp'.

Example

Der Film beginnt um halb drei.

The film starts at half past two.

Words in this phrase

halb

[halp]

half (to)

In German time, 'halb' plus an hour means thirty minutes before that hour.

Example

Wir treffen uns um halb sechs.

We meet at half past five.

drei

[dry]

three

The number 3, often used when stating a price in a café or bakery.

Example

Drei Euro für den Kaffee mit Hafermilch sind okay.

Three euros for the coffee with oat milk are okay.

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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