🕤🙏

How to Say ‘By nine thirty, please.’ in German

Bitte bis halb zehn.

BIT-teh bis halp tsayn

[BIT-teh bis halp tsayn]

💬 Usage Tip: halb zehn means half an hour before ten, so 9:30, not 10:30. Likewise, halb drei is 2:30.

Phrase Breakdown

Bitte

[BIT-teh]

please

Polite word for requests.

Example

Bitte warte kurz.

Please wait a moment.

bis halb zehn.

bis halp tsayn

by half past nine

'halb zehn' means half an hour before ten, so it is 9:30, not 10:30.

Example

Wir essen um halb acht.

We eat at half past seven.

Words in this phrase

bis

[bis]

by, until

Indicates a time limit.

Example

Bitte antworten Sie bis Freitag.

Please reply by Friday.

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.

zehn

[tsayn]

ten

The number 10, often used when stating group size for a reservation.

Example

Ich möchte einen Tisch für zehn Personen reservieren.

I would like to reserve a table for ten people.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer