German Phrase
Wie lange dauert's, bis wir ankommen?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the amount of time that will pass before the speaker and others reach their destination. It is a casual way to inquire about travel time, especially when you are already on a journey.
When to use
Use this phrase while you are on a bus, train, car ride, or any shared travel situation when you want to know how much longer the trip will last. It works best in informal settings with friends, family, or fellow passengers.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wielangedauert's,biswirankommen?
Wie lange
The interrogative phrase 'Wie lange' asks about duration and is placed at the beginning of the question.
dauert's (dauert es)
A colloquial contraction of 'dauert es'. In spoken German the 'es' is often dropped and attached to the verb with an apostrophe.
bis + clause
The conjunction 'bis' introduces a subordinate clause; the verb in that clause moves to the end (ankommen).
Verb‑final order
In subordinate clauses introduced by 'bis', the finite verb goes to the end of the clause (ankommen).
🗨In Conversation
Wie lange dauert's, bis wir ankommen?
How long does it take until we arrive?
Noch etwa zwanzig Minuten, dann sind wir da.
About twenty more minutes, then we'll be there.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie lange dauert bis wir ankommen?
Missing the dummy subject 'es' after 'dauert'. The correct form is 'dauert es' or the colloquial contraction 'dauert's'.
Wie lange dauert's, bis wir kommen an?
In a 'bis'-clause the verb must be at the end. Use 'bis wir ankommen', not 'bis wir kommen an'.
Wie lange dauert's bis wir ankommen?
A comma is required before the subordinate clause introduced by 'bis' in written German.
↔Alternatives
Wie lange brauchen wir, bis wir ankommen?
How long do we need until we arrive?
Wie lange wird es dauern, bis wir ankommen?
How long will it take until we arrive?
Wie lange ist die Fahrzeit bis zum Ziel?
How long is the travel time to the destination?
Cultural Tip
Germans value punctuality, so asking about travel time is common and appreciated. The contraction 'dauert's' is informal; in a formal context (e.g., with a driver you don't know well) you would say 'Wie lange dauert es, bis wir ankommen?'. Also note that in many German-speaking regions the word order after 'bis' stays verb‑final, unlike English where the verb comes earlier.