How to Ask 'How Long Does It Take?' in German
Learn to ask about duration in German using 'Wie lange dauert...?' and understand time expressions like 'eine Stunde' and 'zehn Minuten'.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you need to know how much time something takes in German, the key question is 'Wie lange dauert das?' (How long does that take?). This lesson teaches you to ask about duration and understand common time expressions. You'll learn to use 'dauern' (to take time) and time phrases with 'Minuten', 'Stunden', and 'Tage'. By the end, you can ask and answer simple questions about how long activities take.
By the end, you can…
- ask how long something takes using 'Wie lange dauert...?'
- understand and use time expressions like 'eine Stunde' and 'zehn Minuten'.
- answer simple questions about duration.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wie lange dauert das?
How long does that take?
vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert dahs
General question about duration. Use 'das' for 'that' or replace with a specific noun.
Es dauert eine Stunde.
It takes one hour.
es DOW-ert EYE-nuh SHTOON-duh
Standard answer with a time expression. 'Eine Stunde' means 'one hour'.
Wie lange dauert die Fahrt?
How long does the trip take?
vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert dee FAHRT
Use with a specific noun like 'die Fahrt' (the trip) or 'der Film' (the movie).
Es dauert zehn Minuten.
It takes ten minutes.
es DOW-ert tseyn mih-NOO-ten
Common for short durations. 'Minuten' is plural of 'Minute'.
Wie lange brauchst du?
How long do you need?
vee LAHNG-uh BROWKH-st doo
Alternative using 'brauchen' (to need) when asking about personal time needed.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Wie lange dauert [subject]?' (How long does [subject] take?). The verb 'dauern' means 'to last' or 'to take time'. The subject can be 'das' (that), 'es' (it), or a noun like 'die Fahrt' (the trip). For example: 'Wie lange dauert der Film?' (How long does the movie take?). To answer, use 'Es dauert...' plus a time expression: 'Es dauert zwei Stunden.' (It takes two hours.) Note that 'dauern' is a regular verb: ich dauere, du dauerst, er/sie/es dauert. For plural subjects, use 'dauern': 'Die Fahrten dauern...' (The trips take...).
When to use it
Use 'Wie lange dauert...?' when you want to know the duration of an event, activity, or journey. It is neutral and polite. For personal time needed, you can also ask 'Wie lange brauchst du?' (How long do you need?). To specify the unit, use 'Minuten' (minutes), 'Stunden' (hours), 'Tage' (days), 'Wochen' (weeks), or 'Monate' (months). For example: 'Es dauert drei Tage.' (It takes three days.) In formal contexts, use 'Wie lange dauert es?' or 'Wie lange dauert das?' with 'Sie': 'Wie lange dauert es, bis der Zug kommt?' (How long does it take until the train comes?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wie lange dauert die Fahrt zum Bahnhof?
How long does the trip to the train station take?vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert dee FAHRT tsoom BAHN-hohfEs dauert etwa zwanzig Minuten.
It takes about twenty minutes.es DOW-ert ET-vah TSVAHN-tsikh mih-NOO-tenUnd wie lange dauert es mit dem Bus?
And how long does it take by bus?unt vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert es mit deym BOOSMit dem Bus dauert es eine halbe Stunde.
By bus it takes half an hour.mit deym BOOS DOW-ert es EYE-nuh HAHL-buh SHTOON-duhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, punctuality is valued, so asking about duration is common and practical. When answering, it's typical to give a precise time or a range, e.g., 'etwa' (about) or 'ungefähr' (approximately). Using 'dauern' is standard in both formal and informal contexts. In Switzerland, you might hear 'Wie lange geht das?' instead of 'Wie lange dauert das?', which is a regional variant.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Wie lange' with 'brauchen' without a pronoun, e.g., 'Wie lange brauchst?'
Try this instead: The verb 'brauchen' requires a subject. Say 'Wie lange brauchst du?' (How long do you need?) or 'Wie lange braucht man?' (How long does one need?). Alternatively, use 'dauern' without a personal subject: 'Wie lange dauert das?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'How long does the movie take?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Wie lange dauert der Film?
This uses the pattern 'Wie lange dauert' + subject 'der Film'. 'Dauert' is the third-person singular form of 'dauern'.
2Translate: 'It takes two hours.'
Show a sample answer
Es dauert zwei Stunden.
Use 'Es dauert' + time expression. 'Zwei Stunden' means 'two hours'. Note that 'Stunden' is plural.
3What is a more personal way to ask 'How long do you need?'
Show a sample answer
Wie lange brauchst du?
This uses 'brauchen' with the pronoun 'du'. It's an alternative to 'Wie lange dauert das für dich?' and is common in informal contexts.
To ask about duration in German, use 'Wie lange dauert...?' and answer with 'Es dauert...' plus a time expression. Remember to conjugate 'dauern' correctly and use 'brauchen' for personal time needed.
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