Even I Get Stuck… Telling the Time in German

After so many years in Germany, I still pause when someone says:

“Let’s meet at halb fünf.”

And every time, my brain does this little panic dance:
“Wait—do they mean 4:30 or 5:30?”

Spoiler: In German, “halb fünf” = 4:30.
(Halfway TO five, not past five.)

I once nearly missed a dental appointment because I showed up an hour too late. The receptionist just smiled politely. But I felt like a total amateur.

Here’s the quiet tip I give my clients – and use myself:

👉 When you’re speaking English, don’t say “half past four.”
Just say “four thirty.”
It’s quicker. It’s clearer. And it’s less likely to be misunderstood in international conversations.

So yes… even coaches get confused about time.
The fix? Keep it simple.