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How to Say ‘When would you have time?’ in German

Wann hätten Sie Zeit?

van HET-ten zee tsayt

[van HET-ten zee tsayt]

💬 Usage Tip: hätten is the 'would have' form of haben and makes the question softer than Wann haben Sie Zeit?. It's a handy polite swap for any request.

Phrase Breakdown

Wann hätten

van HET-ten

When would (you) have

'Wann' means 'when' and sounds like 'van'. 'Hätten' is a polite form meaning 'would have'. The 'ä' sounds like the 'e' in 'bed'.

Example

Wann hätten wir einen Termin?

When would we have an appointment?

Words in this phrase

Wann

[van]

when

Used to ask about time, date, or deadline.

Example

Wann genau muss ich absagen?

When exactly do I have to cancel?

hätten

[HET-ten]

would have

Polite subjunctive form used to ask about preferences or wishes.

Example

Hätten Sie einen Wunsch? ist eine sehr höfliche Frage im Restaurant.

Would you have a preference? is a very polite question in a restaurant.

Sie Zeit?

zee tsayt

you time?

'Sie' is the formal 'you'. 'Zeit' means 'time'. The 'Z' sounds like 'ts', so say 'tsait'.

Example

Haben Sie Zeit?

Do you have time?

Words in this phrase

Sie

[zee]

you (formal)

Formal pronoun Sie used to address one person politely.

Example

Kommen Sie bitte herein.

Please come in.

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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