How to say dates, numbers and time in German

How to Say Dates in German: Numbers, Time & More

Q: How do you ask for the date in German?

You can ask „Welches Datum haben wir heute?“ , which means “What is the date today?” Another common expression is „Der wievielte ist heute?“

Q: How do you say your birthday in German?

You can say „Ich habe am zehnten November Geburtstag“ , meaning “My birthday is on November 10th.” The preposition am is commonly used with specific days and dates.

Q: What is the German word for “today”?

The German word for “today” is heute . For example, Heute ist Montag means “Today is Monday.”

Q: How do you ask what time it is in German?

Two common questions are „Wie spät ist es?“ and „Wie viel Uhr ist es?“ Both can be used to ask, “What time is it?”

Learning German becomes much easier when you can talk about everyday details such as birthdays, appointments, schedules, prices, and important dates. Numbers, dates, and time appear in ordinary conversations almost everywhere, whether you are making plans with friends, booking an appointment, attending a class, or travelling through a German-speaking country.

For beginners, these topics can seem slightly confusing because German uses different forms and expressions depending on the situation. However, once you understand a few basic patterns, they become much more manageable.

This guide explains how to say dates in German, along with useful expressions for numbers and time that you can use in everyday conversations.

Understanding German Numbers

Numbers are one of the first things German learners usually encounter. They are important not only for counting but also for giving your age, talking about prices, mentioning dates, and telling the time.

If you are wondering how to say numbers in German, start with the numbers from one to ten:

1 – eins
2 – zwei
3 – drei
4 – vier
5 – fünf
6 – sechs
7 – sieben
8 – acht
9 – neun
10 – zehn

From eleven onward, the patterns gradually become more predictable. For example:

11 – elf
12 – zwölf
13 – dreizehn
14 – vierzehn
15 – fünfzehn
16 – sechzehn
17 – siebzehn
18 – achtzehn
19 – neunzehn
20 – zwanzig

One feature that often surprises English speakers is the structure of numbers such as 21, 32, and 45. In German, the smaller number comes before the tens, followed by und.

For example:

21 – einundzwanzig
32 – zweiunddreißig
45 – fünfundvierzig
58 – achtundfünfzig

So, 21 literally follows the idea of “one and twenty.”

This pattern is particularly important when discussing dates, prices, addresses, telephone numbers, and quantities.

How German Dates Work

Dates are used constantly in everyday German. You may need them when making an appointment, discussing a holiday, giving your birthday, or checking a reservation.

When learning how to say dates in German, one of the most important differences from English is that German commonly uses ordinal numbers for the day.

For example:

der erste Mai – the first of May
der zweite Juni – the second of June
der dritte Juli – the third of July

The first three ordinal numbers are especially important:

1st – erste
2nd – zweite
3rd – dritte

After that, many ordinal numbers are formed by adding -te to the number up to 19.

For example:

4th – vierte
5th – fünfte
6th – sechste
7th – siebte
8th – achte
9th – neunte
10th – zehnte

For numbers from 20 onward, German generally uses -ste:

20th – zwanzigste
21st – einundzwanzigste
30th – dreißigste

Examples of German Dates

Here are some common examples:

Der erste Januar – January 1st
Der zehnte März – March 10th
Der fünfundzwanzigste August – August 25th
Der einunddreißigste Dezember – December 31st

When writing dates numerically, you may see a format such as:

25.08.2026

The dots are an important feature of the German written date format. The day normally comes first, followed by the month and year.

How to Ask for the Date in German

Knowing how to ask questions is just as useful as knowing the date itself.

You can ask:

Welches Datum haben wir heute?
What is the date today?

Another common question is:

Der wievielte ist heute?
What date is it today?

A simple answer might be:

Heute ist der fünfundzwanzigste August.
Today is August 25th.

For birthdays, you can ask:

Wann hast du Geburtstag?
When is your birthday?

A natural response would be:

Ich habe am zehnten November Geburtstag.
My birthday is on November 10th.

Notice the use of am in this type of sentence. It is commonly used when referring to a particular day.

German Months

Learning the months will make date-related conversations much easier.

January – Januar
February – Februar
March – März
April – April
May – Mai
June – Juni
July – Juli
August – August
September – September
October – Oktober
November – November
December – Dezember

Many of these words look familiar to English speakers, although their pronunciation is different.

How to Tell Time in German

Time is another essential part of everyday communication. You may need it when asking about train departures, arranging meetings, attending lessons, or making appointments.

If you want to learn how to tell time in German, begin with the basic question:

Wie spät ist es?
What time is it?

You can also hear:

Wie viel Uhr ist es?
What time is it?

A straightforward answer is:

Es ist drei Uhr.
It is three o’clock.

For half hours, German works differently from English. For example:

Es ist halb vier.

This means 3:30, not 4:30. German uses the next hour as the reference point, so halb vier means “halfway to four.”

This is one of the most important points for beginners to remember.

Minutes Past and Before the Hour

German speakers can express time in several ways.

For example:

Es ist fünf nach drei.
It is 3:05.

Es ist zehn nach vier.
It is 4:10.

Es ist Viertel nach fünf.
It is 5:15.

For times before the next hour, you may hear expressions such as:

Es ist zehn vor sechs.
It is 5:50.

Es ist Viertel vor sieben.
It is 6:45.

In more formal situations, especially schedules, announcements, and official information, the 24-hour system is also common.

For example:

14:30 Uhr can be read as vierzehn Uhr dreißig.

This style is particularly useful for travel, work, appointments, and public transportation.

Useful Everyday Expressions for Time

Once you understand the basic structure, a few everyday expressions can make your conversations sound more natural.

heute – today
morgen – tomorrow
gestern – yesterday
jetzt – now
später – later
früh – early
spät – late
morgens – in the morning
nachmittags – in the afternoon
abends – in the evening
nachts – at night

For example:

Wir treffen uns morgen um neun Uhr.
We are meeting tomorrow at nine.

Der Kurs beginnt um halb zehn.
The course begins at 9:30.

Ich komme später.
I will come later.

Combining Dates and Time

In real conversations, dates and time often appear together. You might need to arrange an appointment or confirm an event.

For example:

Der Termin ist am fünfzehnten September um zehn Uhr.
The appointment is on September 15th at 10 o’clock.

You could also say:

Das Treffen findet am dritten Oktober um halb drei statt.
The meeting takes place on October 3rd at 2:30.

Practising complete sentences like these is more useful than memorising individual words because it helps you understand how German is actually used.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

There are several small mistakes that learners frequently make when working with numbers, dates, and time.

One common problem is translating English sentence structures directly into German. For example, German uses halb vier for 3:30, so interpreting it as 4:30 can cause confusion.

Another issue is forgetting the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers. You use a basic number when counting, but dates commonly require an ordinal form.

It is also worth paying attention to pronunciation. German numbers such as fünf, zwölf, and dreißig contain sounds that may be unfamiliar to English speakers.

The best way to improve is to practise them aloud rather than relying only on written exercises.

Tips for Practising German Dates, Numbers and Time

Start by choosing a few dates that are personally meaningful, such as birthdays, holidays, or important appointments. Say them aloud in German.

Next, practise looking at a clock and describing the time without translating mentally into English first.

You can also create short daily exercises:

Say today’s date in German.
Say tomorrow’s date.
Read five random numbers aloud.
Look at a clock and describe the time.
Create a pretend appointment using a date and time.
Practise asking and answering questions about birthdays.

For example, each morning you could say:

Heute ist der …

Then add the correct date. This simple habit can gradually make German number and date patterns feel automatic.

Conclusion

Numbers, dates, and time are fundamental parts of everyday German. They may seem difficult at first because German uses its own patterns for ordinal numbers, dates, and expressions such as halb vier. With regular practice, however, these structures become much easier to recognise and use.

Understanding how to say dates in German gives you a practical skill that you can immediately use in conversations about birthdays, appointments, travel, work, and everyday plans. At the same time, becoming comfortable with numbers and time will help you understand announcements, schedules, prices, and other information more confidently.

Rather than trying to memorise everything at once, practise a few examples every day. Repeating dates, reading numbers aloud, and describing the time in German will gradually turn these essential expressions into natural parts of your vocabulary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say a date in German?

German dates generally use an ordinal number for the day, followed by the month. For example, January 1st is der erste Januar.

How do you write dates in German?

Dates are commonly written in the day-month-year order. For example, August 25, 2026 can be written as 25.08.2026.

How do you ask for the date in German?

You can ask „Welches Datum haben wir heute?“, which means “What is the date today?” Another common expression is „Der wievielte ist heute?“

What are ordinal numbers in German?

Ordinal numbers indicate position or order, such as first, second, and third. They are commonly used when talking about dates. For example, erste means first and zweite means second.

How do you say your birthday in German?

You can say „Ich habe am zehnten November Geburtstag“, meaning “My birthday is on November 10th.” The preposition am is commonly used with specific days and dates.

What is the German word for “today”?

The German word for “today” is heute. For example, Heute ist Montag means “Today is Monday.”

How do you ask what time it is in German?

Two common questions are „Wie spät ist es?“ and „Wie viel Uhr ist es?“ Both can be used to ask, “What time is it?”

How do you say the days of the week in German?

The days of the week are Montag (Monday), Dienstag (Tuesday), Mittwoch (Wednesday), Donnerstag (Thursday), Freitag (Friday), Samstag (Saturday), and Sonntag (Sunday).

Is the 24-hour clock used in Germany?

Yes. The 24-hour system is frequently used for official schedules, transportation, appointments, and written information. For example, 14:30 Uhr refers to 2:30 PM.

What is the best way to practise German numbers, dates and time?

Practise by saying the current date, reading random numbers aloud, describing different clock times, and creating simple appointment sentences. Regular short practice can make these expressions much easier to use naturally.