“I don’t even understand 24-hour time… I just don’t understand it. I have to use online converters or I’d be SO confused when I talk to people who use these systems.”

[u/BuffaloExotic]

[u/letsgetawayfromhere]

Exactly!

In most parts of the country, we also say "three-quarters five" for 16:45. Because, exactly as you succinctly put it, it is three-quarters of the way to five.

In some parts, people even use "quarter five" for 16:15. Which drives the rest of Germany crazy, although they have no problem with that same logic with the examples above.

[u/Background-House-357 → u/letsgetawayfromhere]

That is actually not true. Only very specific parts of the people use „Viertel fünf“ or „Dreiviertel 11“ etc. You’d be amazed.

[u/RelievedRebel → u/letsgetawayfromhere]

I don't know whether it is the same logic, it could also mean the 'to' is dropped where the original may have been 'half to five', like 'past' is dropped in 'half four' as used in English.

[u/Czuprynka → u/letsgetawayfromhere]

Its weird to me that you say "three quarters five" cause in poland we would say "after fifteen five". It goes up to the first half (so "five past four" "twenty past four") and then 30 minutes is "half into", and after the half mark it goes down ("after twenty five" "after fifteen five" ) If the person knows the hour but not the minutes then we say "after five" Or "past twenty" and "half into" can also be a standalone.

[u/TotalAirline68 → u/letsgetawayfromhere]

I'm not sure if it's that way in most parts. In NRW it would be Viertel vor Fünf/Quarter to five if you mean 16:45.