German Phrase
Wie wär's mit 15 Uhr?
Meaning
A casual way to propose a meeting time, literally ‘How about it with 15 o’clock?’ It’s friendly, informal, and often used when arranging plans with friends or colleagues.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal spoken German when you want to suggest a specific time for a meeting, coffee, or any activity. It works best with people you know well or in relaxed business settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Wiewär'smit15Uhr?
Wie (question word)
‘Wie’ introduces a suggestion or question, similar to ‘how’ or ‘what about’ in English.
wär's (Konjunktiv II of sein)
‘wär's’ is a colloquial contraction of ‘wäre es’, the subjunctive form used for polite suggestions.
mit (preposition)
‘mit’ here means ‘with’ in the sense of ‘with regard to’ or ‘concerning’ a time.
15 Uhr (time expression)
In German the 24‑hour clock is standard; ‘15 Uhr’ equals 3 p.m.
🗨In Conversation
Wie wär's mit 15 Uhr?
How about 3 p.m.?
Klingt gut, ich bin dann da.
Sounds good, I’ll be there.
✕Common Mistakes
Wie ist's mit 15 Uhr?
‘ist’ is the indicative form of ‘sein’; the subjunctive ‘wäre’ (contracted to ‘wär’s) is required for polite suggestions.
Wie wär's um 15 Uhr?
‘um’ is not wrong, but it changes the nuance to a precise point in time rather than a suggestion; learners often mix the two.
Wie wär's mit 3 Uhr?
In German the 24‑hour format is preferred for formal or semi‑formal contexts; ‘3 Uhr’ can sound ambiguous unless the context is clearly afternoon.
↔Alternatives
Wie wäre es um 15 Uhr?
How would it be at 3 p.m.?
Passt dir 15 Uhr?
Does 3 p.m. work for you?
Wie wäre es mit drei Uhr nachmittags?
How about three o’clock in the afternoon?
Cultural Tip
Germans almost always use the 24‑hour clock in written and spoken contexts, especially for appointments. Being punctual is highly valued, so when you suggest a time, be prepared to stick to it. In Southern Germany you might also hear ‘um drei Uhr’ instead of ‘mit 15 Uhr’, but the meaning stays the same.