Navigating Time and Location in German Witness Statements – My Experiences

Okay, so I’ve been living in Munich for almost two years now, working as a freelance translator. It’s fantastic, really, but there’s this one area that’s always tripped me up, especially when it comes to any kind of official situation – witness statements. You hear about them, they’re important, and suddenly you’re asked to give a precise account of what you saw. The tricky part isn’t the translation itself (usually!), it’s the how of describing time and place in German. It’s a completely different beast than just saying “Ich habe es gesehen” (I saw it).

The Problem with “Uhr” (Clock)

I spent the first few months just blurting out “Uhr zwölf” (twelve o’clock) whenever someone asked what time something happened. Big mistake. Turns out, Germans don’t always use the 12-hour clock system like we do. I asked a colleague, Steven, about a break he’d taken last week and, completely confidently, said, “Ich war um drei Uhr da.” He looked utterly confused. “Drei Uhr? Aber das ist nur vormittags!” (Three o’clock? But that’s only in the morning!). He patiently explained that “drei Uhr nachmittags” (three o’clock in the afternoon) is the correct way to say it. Honestly, it felt incredibly frustrating – like I was messing up something fundamental.

Locating Yourself: “Links” vs. “Rechts” – And Everything In Between

Then there’s the location. “Links” (left) and “Rechts” (right) are absolute nightmares when you’re trying to be precise. I was giving a statement about a theft from a shop near Marienplatz and I kept describing the location as “links von der Kirche” (left of the church). The officer, Herr Schmidt, just kept nodding and writing, and then said, very politely, “Nein, nein. Rechts von der Kirche, Sie haben gesagt.” (No, no. Right of the church, you said.) I realized I was completely relying on my own spatial orientation, and it wasn’t translating well into clear German. I was clearly picturing it from my perspective, which was obviously different from his.

Key Phrases for Time and Location

Here are some phrases I’ve found really helpful, and which I’ve started using instinctively:

• Um… Uhr (At… o’clock) – This is your go-to for accurate time. Example: “Um 8:15 Uhr habe ich das gesehen.” (At 8:15 o’clock, I saw it.)
• Vormittags (In the morning) – “Vormittags um 9 Uhr” (At 9 o’clock in the morning).
• Nachmittags (In the afternoon) – “Nachmittags um 3 Uhr” (At 3 o’clock in the afternoon).
• Abends (In the evening) – “Abends um 7 Uhr” (At 7 o’clock in the evening).
• Links von… (Left of…)
• Rechts von… (Right of…)
• Direkt vor… (Right in front of…) – This is really important for street addresses.
• Auf der Ecke von… und… (On the corner of… and…) – This is a super common way to describe a location. “Auf der Ecke von der Maximilianstraße und der Viktualienstraße” (On the corner of Maximilian Street and Viktualien Street).

A Real-Life Mix-Up

Last month, I was involved in a minor incident – someone bumped into me on the U-Bahn (subway). The police asked me to describe where I was standing when it happened. I, in my panic, blurted out, “Ich stand links vom Bahnsteig!” (I was standing left of the platform!). The officer, a young woman named Officer Müller, immediately checked her notes and said, “Entschuldigung, Sie standen hinter dem Bahnsteig!” (Excuse me, you were behind the platform!). It was a completely embarrassing moment, but it highlighted just how crucial it is to think about your position relative to landmarks, not just your personal sense of direction.

Tips & Tricks I’ve Learned

• Use Landmarks: Instead of just saying “links”, always try to link it to something. “Links von der großen Bank” (Left of the big bank) is much clearer.
• Ask for Clarification: Don’t be afraid to say “Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?” (Can you repeat that, please?) if you don’t understand. Or, even better, “Können Sie es mir bitte anders erklären?” (Can you explain it to me in a different way?).
• Write It Down: Seriously, even if you think you’re a good speaker, jotting down the time and location before you start speaking will help you stay organized and avoid confusion.

Learning to describe time and location in German has been a surprisingly challenging and important part of my integration here. It’s not just about understanding the language; it’s about understanding how Germans think about and talk about space and time. And honestly, it’s made me a much more observant and thoughtful communicator. “Gut gemacht!” (Well done!) to you if you’re tackling this too!