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
For a planned conversation with a doctor or professor, both words are possible, though they emphasize different things. „Der Termin“ is arranged individually and usually specifies a particular time; „die Sprechstunde“ refers to the general period of availability. Use „Termin“ for an individual appointment and „Sprechstunde“ for the open office-hours period.
Die Sprechstunde des Professors ist am Dienstag von 14 bis 16 Uhr.
The professor's office hours are on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Ich habe am Dienstag um 14 Uhr einen Termin beim Professor.
I have an appointment with the professor on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
