German Phrase
Es ist zwanzig nach zwei.
Meaning
This phrase is a standard way to tell time in German, indicating that 20 minutes have passed after the hour of two. Unlike some languages that might use subtraction for minutes past the quarter-hour, German commonly uses 'nach' (after) for increments up to 25 or 30 minutes. It's a precise and common way to state the time in both casual and semi-formal settings.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks 'Wie spät ist es?' or 'Wie viel Uhr ist es?' to provide the current time. It is suitable for everyday conversations, scheduling appointments, or answering a stranger in public.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Es istzwanzignachzwei
Es ist
The standard impersonal construction used to introduce the time, similar to 'It is' in English.
nach
A preposition used in time-telling to mean 'after' or 'past' for the first half of the hour.
Zahlen (Numbers)
Always use cardinal numbers (zwei, drei, etc.) for the hour and minutes in casual time-telling.
🗨In Conversation
Entschuldigung, wie viel Uhr ist es?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Es ist zwanzig nach zwei.
It is twenty past two.
✕Common Mistakes
Es ist zwanzig von zwei.
In German, 'nach' is the correct preposition for 'past' when telling time; 'von' is not used in this context.
Es ist zwanzig nach zweite.
Use the cardinal number 'zwei' instead of the ordinal 'zweite' when stating the hour.
↔Alternatives
Es ist vierzehn Uhr zwanzig.
It is 14:20 (military/formal time).
Zwei Uhr zwanzig.
Two twenty.
Zehn vor halb drei.
Ten before half three (Regional variation for 2:20).
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries, the 24-hour clock is standard for official times like train schedules or business meetings. However, in casual speech, the 12-hour clock is preferred. Note that regional differences exist; in parts of Eastern and Southern Germany, people might use fractional terms like 'viertel drei' for 2:15, so 'zwanzig nach zwei' is often the safest and most universally understood option.