SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Time And Dates

German Phrase

Ich bin um fünf fertig.

/ɪç bɪn ʊm fʏnf ˈfɛʁtɪç/
Meaning"I'll be ready at five."
💡

Meaning

This phrase indicates that the speaker will have finished their current task or will be prepared to leave at exactly five o'clock. It uses the present tense to describe a near-future event, which is a standard grammatical feature in German.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when making plans or confirming a schedule with friends, family, or colleagues. It is appropriate for both casual and professional contexts to signal availability at a specific time.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichbinumfünffertig

1

Ich bin

The present tense of 'to be' is used here to express a fixed intention in the near future.

2

um

The preposition 'um' is used exclusively for specific points in time on the clock.

3

fertig

This adjective means 'finished' or 'ready' and usually appears at the end of the clause in this context.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wann können wir losgehen?

When can we go?

Ich bin um fünf fertig.

I'll be ready at five.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich bin um fünf bereit.

    While 'bereit' means ready, 'fertig' is the standard term for being finished with a task or being ready to depart.

  • Ich werde um fünf fertig sein.

    While grammatically correct, Germans almost always use the simple present 'bin' for scheduled future actions.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich bin um 17 Uhr fertig.

    I'm finished at 5 PM.

  • Gegen fünf bin ich so weit.

    I'll be ready around five.

de

Cultural Tip

Punctuality is highly valued in German-speaking cultures. If you say you are ready at five, it is expected that you are truly ready to walk out the door or start the meeting at 5:00 sharp. In formal schedules, the 24-hour clock is preferred to avoid confusion.