office hours
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office hours
A set period of time during which a person with a specific role, such as a doctor, professor, or official, is available for conversations, consultations, or examinations.
Ich habe morgen um 10 Uhr einen Termin in der Sprechstunde des Arztes.
I have an appointment tomorrow at 10 o'clock during the doctor's office hours.
The word is made up of 'sprechen' (to speak) and 'Stunde' (hour). It literally describes a 'Stunde zum Sprechen' (hour for speaking), meaning a fixed period of time for conversations and consultations.
Die wöchentliche Sprechstunde des Bürgermeisters ist immer sehr gut besucht.
The mayor's weekly office hours are always very well attended.
You go 'in die Sprechstunde' (to office hours; movement) or are 'in der Sprechstunde' (in office hours; location). The person offering the consultation 'hat eine Sprechstunde' (has office hours) or 'bietet eine Sprechstunde an' (offers office hours).
Ich muss heute Nachmittag noch in die Sprechstunde.
I still have to go to office hours this afternoon.
A 'Sprechstunde' (office hours) is not only offered by doctors. Professors, teachers, lawyers, or employees in public offices also have office hours for consultations.
Für die Anmeldung zur Prüfung müssen Sie in die Sprechstunde des Prüfungsamtes gehen.
To register for the exam, you have to go to the examination office's office hours.
appointment / deadline
'der Termin' and 'die Sprechstunde' both have to do with planned time, especially with doctors, teachers, or authorities. A 'Termin' is an exact time when you are supposed to come, for example at 10 o'clock. A 'Sprechstunde' is a longer period of time during which someone is available for conversations or consultation. So you can have an appointment during someone's office hours. Learners confuse the words because both often appear in the same context. In practical terms: 'Termin' is your specific time, while 'Sprechstunde' is the time when the person is available.
Die Sprechstunde der Professorin ist jeden Dienstag von zehn bis zwölf.
The professor's office hours are every Tuesday from ten to twelve.
Ich habe morgen um neun Uhr einen Termin beim Arzt.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at nine o'clock.