01
die Viertelstunde
quarter hour
A period of exactly 15 minutes.
example
Ich warte schon eine Viertelstunde auf den Bus.
I've been waiting for the bus for a quarter of an hour.
die Viertelstunde
quarter hour
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Compound structure
The word is made up of 'Viertel' (quarter; one part of four) and 'Stunde' (hour). So it literally means 'a fourth part of an hour'.
EXAMPLE
Eine Viertelstunde hat 15 Minuten.
A quarter of an hour has 15 minutes.
Use with prepositions
'Viertelstunde' (quarter hour) is often combined with time prepositions to describe periods of time: 'in einer Viertelstunde' (in a quarter of an hour; future), 'vor einer Viertelstunde' (a quarter of an hour ago; past), or 'für eine Viertelstunde' (for a quarter of an hour; duration).
EXAMPLE
Der Film beginnt in einer Viertelstunde.
The film starts in a quarter of an hour.
Telling time
When giving the time, 'Viertelstunde' is often shortened to 'Viertel' and used without an article. You say 'Viertel nach drei' (quarter past three; 3:15) or 'Viertel vor vier' (quarter to four; 3:45).
EXAMPLE
Wir treffen uns um Viertel nach acht.
We're meeting at quarter past eight.
Cultural context
The 'akademische Viertelstunde' (academic quarter hour) is a tradition at many universities in German-speaking countries. An event that begins at 10:00 c.t. (cum tempore) actually does not start until 10:15.
EXAMPLE
Achtung, der Professor beginnt seine Vorlesung immer pünktlich und ohne die akademische Viertelstunde.
Careful, the professor always begins his lecture on time and without the academic quarter hour.
Compare with
Viertelstunde vs Viertel
quarter / district
'das Viertel' and 'die Viertelstunde' can both mean a period of 15 minutes. 'Viertel' is shorter and often appears in time expressions, for example 'ein Viertel warten' (to wait a quarter of an hour), or regionally when telling time. 'Viertelstunde' is clearer and means exactly 15 minutes. Learners may confuse the words because 'Viertel' has several meanings: it can also be a district, a quarter of something, or an amount of a drink. When the context is clearly about time, 'Viertelstunde' is often the safer and more precise form.
Viertelstunde
Das Kind darf noch eine Viertelstunde spielen.
The child may play for another quarter of an hour.
Viertel
Sie hat ein Viertel gewartet und ist dann nach Hause gegangen.
She waited a quarter of an hour and then went home.
In real life
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