German Phrase
Ist es Zeit zu gehen?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the current moment is appropriate for leaving. It can be translated as ‘Is it time to go?’ and is often used when checking if a meeting, event, or gathering should end.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to politely confirm that it’s appropriate to leave a conversation, a dinner, a class, or any social setting. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts, but in very formal settings you might opt for a more elaborate phrasing.
✦Grammar Breakdown
IstesZeitzugehen?
Ist (sein)
‘Ist’ is the 3rd person singular present form of the verb ‘sein’ (to be) and is used for statements and questions about a singular subject.
es (impersonal pronoun)
‘es’ is an impersonal pronoun often used in German to refer to a situation or a general state, similar to ‘it’ in English.
Zeit (noun)
‘Zeit’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘time’. In this construction it refers to the appropriate moment for an action.
zu + infinitive
‘zu’ introduces an infinitive verb and is equivalent to the English ‘to’. It is required after nouns like ‘Zeit’ when they are followed by an action.
gehen (infinitive)
‘gehen’ is the infinitive form of the verb ‘to go’. Paired with ‘zu’, it forms ‘zu gehen’ – ‘to go’.
🗨In Conversation
Ist es Zeit zu gehen?
Is it time to go?
Ja, wir sollten jetzt gehen.
Yes, we should go now.
✕Common Mistakes
Sind es Zeit zu gehen?
‘Sind’ is the plural form of ‘sein’; the subject ‘es’ is singular, so you must use ‘ist’.
Ist es Zeit gehen?
The infinitive marker ‘zu’ is required after ‘Zeit’ when followed by a verb.
Ist es die Zeit zu gehen?
The article ‘die’ is unnecessary; ‘Zeit’ is used without an article in this idiom.
↔Alternatives
Sollen wir jetzt gehen?
Should we go now?
Ist es jetzt an der Zeit zu gehen?
Is it now the time to go?
Möchten Sie gehen?
Would you like to go?
Cultural Tip
Germans value punctuality, so asking ‘Ist es Zeit zu gehen?’ is a courteous way to respect everyone’s schedule. In a business setting, it’s common to wait for the host to signal the end of a meeting, but a polite question like this shows you’re attentive to time constraints. In some regions (e.g., Bavaria), people may linger longer after a meal, so the phrase can also serve as a gentle cue to wrap up.