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How to Say ‘Do you have a moment?’ in German

Haben Sie kurz Zeit?

hah-ben zee koorts tsayt

[hah-ben zee koorts tsayt]

💬 Usage Tip: kurz "briefly" softens the request by promising it won't take long. Same trick: Kann ich kurz fragen? "Can I quickly ask?"

Phrase Breakdown

Haben Sie

hah-ben zee

Do you have

A formal question starts with the verb, followed by 'Sie' (formal you).

Example

Haben Sie eine Frage?

Do you have a question?

Words in this phrase

Haben

[hah-ben]

have

To possess or hold something.

Example

Ich habe ein Buch.

I have a book.

Sie

[zee]

you

The formal 'you' used in polite professional conversations.

Example

Ich freue mich, Sie hier auf der Jobmesse zu sehen.

I am pleased to see you here at the job fair.

kurz Zeit?

koorts tsayt

a moment?

'kurz Zeit' literally means 'time briefly', so it asks for a minute of someone's time. The 'Z' sounds like 'ts'.

Example

Hast du kurz Zeit?

Do you have a moment?

Words in this phrase

kurz

[koorts]

briefly, for a moment

Means short; as an adverb, for a short time.

Example

Kann ich kurz telefonieren?

Can I make a quick call?

Zeit

[tsayt]

time

Refers to the concept of time.

Example

Ich habe keine Zeit.

I have no time.

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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