⏱️5️⃣

How to Say ‘That takes about five minutes’ in German

Das dauert etwa fünf Minuten

dahs DOW-ert ET-vah Fuenf mee-NOO-ten

[dahs DOW-ert ET-vah Fuenf mee-NOO-ten]

Phrase Breakdown

Das dauert

dahs DOW-ert

That takes

'Dauern' means 'to last' or 'to take (time)'. 'Dauert' is pronounced DOW-ert.

Example

Das dauert lange.

That takes a long time.

Words in this phrase

Das

[dahs]

that / it

Can refer to a thing, item, or dish in front of you.

Example

Was ist das? Das Wort das can mean that or it.

What is that? The word das can mean that or it.

dauert

[DOW-ert]

takes, lasts

Verb used to ask how much time something requires.

Example

Wie lange dauert die Installation?

How long does the installation take?

etwa fünf Minuten

ET-vah Fuenf mee-NOO-ten

about five minutes

This gives the approximate time. Round your lips for the 'ü' in 'fünf'.

Example

Der Bus kommt in etwa fünf Minuten.

The bus comes in about five minutes.

Words in this phrase

etwa

[ET-vah]

about; approximately

Used before a number to show it is an estimate.

Example

Etwa vierzig Quadratmeter hat der ganze Bereich.

The whole area is about forty square meters.

fünf

[Fuenf]

five

The number after four and before six.

Example

Fünf Frösche hüpfen im Garten, was 'Fünf flinke Frösche' beschreibt.

Five frogs are hopping in the garden, which describes 'Fünf flinke Frösche.'

Minuten

[mee-NOO-ten]

minutes

Plural of Minute; a unit of time.

Example

In zwanzig Minuten startet das Briefing.

In twenty minutes the briefing starts.

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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