Sign inSign up

Wir treffen uns um halb sieben im Park.

Wir treffen uns um halb sieben im Park.
We meet at half past six in the park.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning German now

Questions & Answers about Wir treffen uns um halb sieben im Park.

What time exactly does halb sieben mean?
It means 6:30. In German, halb sieben is the half-hour before seven. Note: in some English varieties, “half seven” means 7:30—German is different.
Why is it treffen uns and not just treffen?

Because sich treffen is a reflexive verb when people meet each other by arrangement. You need the reflexive pronoun:

  • Wir treffen uns. = We meet (each other).
  • Without uns, treffen needs an object: Wir treffen Peter. = We meet Peter.
What case is uns here?
Accusative reflexive. The forms are: mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich. In Wir treffen uns, there’s no other object, so the reflexive is accusative.
What does im in im Park stand for?
It’s the contraction of in dem (“in the”). In takes the dative for location (where?): im Park. With motion into, use accusative: in den Park (“into the park”).
Why is the time introduced with um and not am?
  • um is for clock times: um halb sieben, um 6:30.
  • am is for days/dates/parts of the day: am Freitag, am 5. Mai, am Abend.
Do I add Uhr after halb sieben?
Usually no. Say um halb sieben. Use Uhr with exact numbers: um 6:30 Uhr or um sechs Uhr.
Can I change the order of time and place?

Yes. Common is time before place:

  • Wir treffen uns um halb sieben im Park. (neutral) You can front an element, but keep the verb in second position:
  • Im Park treffen wir uns um halb sieben.
  • Um halb sieben treffen wir uns im Park.
What’s the difference between im Park, am Park, and auf dem Park?
  • im Park: inside the park (most common here).
  • am Park: at/by the park (near its edge).
  • auf dem Park: not idiomatic. You’d say auf dem Parkplatz (parking lot) or im Park for the park.
How do I write this with digits or in 24-hour time?
  • Wir treffen uns um 6:30 im Park.
  • With 24-hour time: Wir treffen uns um 18:30 im Park. Both 6:30 and 6.30 are seen; add Uhr if you like formality: um 18:30 Uhr.
How do I ask this as a question or make a suggestion?
  • Yes/no question: Treffen wir uns um halb sieben im Park?
  • Suggestion: Sollen wir uns um halb sieben im Park treffen? / Wollen wir uns um halb sieben im Park treffen?
Can I say Wir treffen um halb sieben im Park without uns?
No. Without an object, treffen doesn’t mean “meet (each other).” You need uns: Wir treffen uns … Or supply an object: Wir treffen Anna …
Is there a difference between jemanden treffen and sich treffen (mit …)?
  • jemanden treffen: meet someone (planned or by chance). Example: Ich treffe Anna.
  • sich treffen (mit + Dativ): meet up with someone (typically arranged). Example: Ich treffe mich mit Anna.
Why is the present tense used for a future meeting?
German often uses the present for future plans when a time expression is present: Wir treffen uns morgen … Werden is possible (Wir werden uns … treffen) but not necessary.
Are there regional variants for saying 6:30?

Yes, alternatives include:

  • um sechs Uhr dreißig
  • Colloquial approximation: gegen halb sieben or so gegen halb sieben. Note: halb nach sechs is incorrect in standard German. In parts of southern Germany/Austria, you’ll hear dreiviertel sieben for 6:45, but 6:30 is still halb sieben everywhere.