A1AbstractNoun
die

Zeit

time

Plural: die Zeiten/tsaɪt/

A feminine noun (die Zeit) — abstract but one of the most-used words in German. Used in countless expressions about time, deadlines, and eras. Unlike English, German distinguishes between 'Zeit' (time as concept) and 'Uhr' (clock time).

ArticlePluralPronunciation
die Zeitdie Zeiten/tsaɪt/

Example Sentences

Ich habe keine Zeit.

I don't have time.

Die Zeit vergeht schnell.

Time passes quickly.

Es ist Zeit für das Abendessen.

It's time for dinner.

Compound Words

Zeitschrift (die) — magazine

Zeitung (die) — newspaper

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'Zeit' and 'Uhr': 'Wie viel Zeit ist es?'

For clock time: 'Wie viel Uhr ist es?' / 'Wie spät ist es?'

Related Grammar

Related Verbs

Explore More

Find your mistakes in 3 minutes

Free diagnose: 4 short prompts — your top-3 error patterns, with quotes from your own text. They become your first lesson.