Public transportation, concert times, show times, university schedules and broadcast times are given in the 24-hour system. In private conversation the twelve hour system is the norm. Compare:
 

1:30 p.m.

24 Hour System: dreizehn Uhr dreißig

12 Hour System: ein Uhr dreißig (nachmittags) or halb zwei* (nachmittags)

*The word halb is only used in the twelve hour system.

Discussions involving a mixture of public events and private events may be in either system.
 

Lilo might just as well have said "Acht Uhr fünfzehn." and Karla might just as well have responded "Also müssen wir gegen sechs Uhr essen." In any case, the theater tickets will read "20.15 Uhr."

Telling Time in Speech vs. Writing

Germans write times and say times using different word order.

SPEAKING:
 

WRITING:
 

In writing, the hour and minutes are separated by a period. Uhr is sometimes abbreviated h.
 

The changes are parallel for the twelve or the twenty-four hour system.

SPEAKING:
 

WRITING:
 

Examples of 12 and 24 Hour Clock

• Theaterkasse: Gut, Frau Hildebrandt. Die Karten müssen Sie bis 19.45 h an der Kasse abholen.
• Um zwanzig Uhr fünfzehn.