01
die Uhr
clock / watch
An instrument that shows the time, for example a wristwatch or a wall clock.
example
Meine Uhr geht fünf Minuten vor.
My watch is five minutes fast.
die Uhr
clock / watch
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Two meanings
The word 'Uhr' (clock/watch) has two main functions. With an article ('die Uhr'), it refers to the device that measures time. Without an article, it is used as a unit for clock time and always comes after a number.
EXAMPLE
Ich brauche eine neue Uhr, meine alte ist kaputt.
I need a new watch; my old one is broken.
Fixed preposition
To indicate an exact point in time, the preposition 'um' (at) is almost always used. The fixed structure is: 'um + number + Uhr'.
EXAMPLE
Der Film beginnt pünktlich um 20:15 Uhr.
The film begins punctually at 8:15 p.m.
Asking for the time
There are two important questions to distinguish. 'Wie viel Uhr ist es?' asks for the current time. 'Um wie viel Uhr?' asks for the time of an event.
EXAMPLE
Entschuldigung, wie viel Uhr ist es?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Typical verbs
When 'die Uhr' (the clock/watch) refers to the device, it is often combined with certain verbs. Typical examples are: 'eine Uhr tragen' (to wear a watch), 'die Uhr stellen' (to set the time), or, when it is not working correctly: 'die Uhr geht vor/nach' (the clock/watch is fast/slow).
EXAMPLE
Meine Uhr geht jeden Tag zwei Minuten nach.
My watch is two minutes slow every day.
Compare with
Uhr vs Stunde
hour
'Uhr' and 'Stunde' both have to do with time, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Uhr' is used with a number when giving an exact time of day, for example '8 Uhr' (8 o'clock). 'Stunde' is a duration of 60 minutes. Learners often confuse the words because numbers occur in both cases. The difference is: 'um 8 Uhr' (at 8 o'clock) gives the point in time, while 'acht Stunden' (eight hours) gives the length of a period of time.
Uhr
Der Unterricht beginnt heute um acht Uhr.
Class starts at eight o'clock today.
Stunde
Für die Hausaufgaben brauche ich heute nur eine Stunde.
I only need one hour for the homework today.
In real life
Loading video examples...