German Phrase
Das dauert etwa 30 Minuten.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that something will take roughly half an hour. It is a neutral way to give an estimate without claiming exact precision.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to tell someone how long an activity, a process, or a travel segment will last – for example cooking times, waiting periods, movie lengths, or the duration of a train ride.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dasdauertetwa30Minuten.
Das (demonstrative pronoun)
Refers to a specific thing or situation previously mentioned; it is neuter singular.
dauert (verb)
Third‑person singular present of dauern ‘to last, to take (time)’. In German the verb stays in second position.
etwa (approximation)
Means ‘about, roughly’. It can be placed before a number or after the verb, but before the measurement unit.
30 Minuten (quantity)
A cardinal number followed by a plural noun. No article is needed when the number is used as a measurement.
🗨In Conversation
Wie lange dauert der Film?
How long does the movie last?
Das dauert etwa 30 Minuten.
It lasts about 30 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist etwa 30 Minuten.
‘sein’ describes a state, not a duration. Use ‘dauert’ to talk about how long something lasts.
Ungefähr 30 Minuten das dauert.
Word order in German places the verb in second position; the time expression follows the verb.
Das dauert 30 Minuten etwa.
‘etwa’ should come before the number or directly after the verb, not after the measurement.
↔Alternatives
Es dauert rund 30 Minuten.
It takes roughly 30 minutes.
Das nimmt ungefähr 30 Minuten in Anspruch.
That takes approximately 30 minutes.
Ungefähr eine halbe Stunde.
About half an hour.
Cultural Tip
Germans value punctuality, so giving a time estimate is common in everyday conversation. Using ‘etwa’ or ‘ungefähr’ softens the statement, showing you’re not claiming absolute precision – a polite habit especially in business or service contexts.