In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe arriving after the scheduled or agreed-upon time.
- Combines 'zu spät' (too late) with the verb 'kommen' (to come).
- Essential for navigating German social expectations regarding punctuality.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to say you are arriving after the agreed-upon time. It is like telling a friend you're running behind or apologizing to your boss for missing the start of a meeting.
Key Examples
3 of 6Texting a friend while running to the cafe
Tut mir leid, ich komme 5 Minuten zu spät!
I'm sorry, I'm coming 5 minutes late!
Entering a business meeting that has already started
Entschuldigen Sie bitte, dass ich zu spät komme.
Please excuse me for coming late.
Complaining about public transportation
Die S-Bahn kommt heute schon wieder zu spät.
The suburban train is coming late again today.
Cultural Background
Punctuality is a 'Sekundärtugend' (secondary virtue). Being late is often seen as unreliable or even arrogant, as if your time is more valuable than others'. Swiss punctuality is even more legendary than German. Trains are expected to be accurate to the minute. 'Zu spät kommen' is a major social faux pas. While still valuing punctuality, Austrians might be slightly more relaxed in social settings compared to Prussians, often citing 'Gemütlichkeit'. In international business meetings with Germans, 'zu spät kommen' can damage a deal before it even starts.
The 'Sein' Rule
Always remember that in the past tense, you must use 'bin/bist/ist' with 'gekommen'. Never 'habe'.
Don't say 'Ich bin spät'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. It sounds very weird to Germans!
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe arriving after the scheduled or agreed-upon time.
- Combines 'zu spät' (too late) with the verb 'kommen' (to come).
- Essential for navigating German social expectations regarding punctuality.
What It Means
In German, zu spät kommen is your go-to expression for being late. It combines the adverbial phrase zu spät (too late) with the verb kommen (to come). Unlike English, where we use the verb 'to be' (I am late), Germans 'come' late. It describes the act of arriving at a destination after the scheduled moment. Whether it is a train, a person, or an event, this phrase covers it all. It is simple, direct, and incredibly common in daily life.
How To Use It
You will mostly use this with a subject and the verb kommen. In the present tense, you say ich komme zu spät to mean 'I am running late.' If you have already arrived late, you use the Perfekt tense: ich bin zu spät gekommen. Notice that we use sein (to be) as the helping verb here. You can also add a specific amount of time. For example, fünf Minuten zu spät kommen means to be five minutes late. Just remember to conjugate kommen to match who is being late.
When To Use It
Use this in almost any situation involving a clock. Use it when texting a friend that you missed the bus. Use it at work when a meeting has already started. It is perfect for talking about public transport, like der Bus kommt zu spät. You can even use it when talking about life milestones. If someone starts a career late, they are a Spätberufener. It is a very versatile tool for your German kit. Just don't use it as an excuse too often!
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase for deadlines or late payments. If a bill is late, you should use überfällig. If you are submitting a paper late, use verspätet einreichen. Also, do not use it for 'late' meaning deceased. That would be verstorben. This phrase is strictly about the physical act of arriving or the timing of an event. If you want to sound very fancy or official, you might use sich verspäten instead. But for 99% of your life, zu spät kommen is exactly what you need.
Cultural Background
Germany is famous for its love of punctuality. In many regions, being 'on time' actually means arriving five minutes early. If you arrive exactly at the start time, you are already pushing it. Being zu spät is often seen as a lack of respect for others' time. There is a famous saying: Pünktlichkeit ist die Höflichkeit der Könige. This means punctuality is the politeness of kings. Even the Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) is obsessed with this, though they don't always succeed!
Common Variations
You will often hear Verspätung haben. This is mostly used for trains and planes. For example, Der Zug hat 10 Minuten Verspätung. Another common one is sich verspäten. This is a reflexive verb that sounds a bit more formal. You might hear it in an office: Ich habe mich verspätet. If you want to be very casual, you can just say Ich bin spät dran. This means 'I am running late' in a more hurried, informal way.
Usage Notes
This phrase is neutral and works in 95% of situations. It is safe for both your best friend and your CEO. Just remember that it uses 'sein' in the past tense, which is a common trap for English speakers.
The 'Sein' Rule
Always remember that in the past tense, you must use 'bin/bist/ist' with 'gekommen'. Never 'habe'.
Don't say 'Ich bin spät'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. It sounds very weird to Germans!
The 5-Minute Rule
In Germany, arriving exactly on time is okay, but 5 minutes early is better. 5 minutes late requires a text message.
Use 'leider'
Adding 'leider' (unfortunately) makes your excuse sound much more polite: 'Ich komme leider zu spät.'
Examples
6Tut mir leid, ich komme 5 Minuten zu spät!
I'm sorry, I'm coming 5 minutes late!
A very common way to update friends on your arrival status.
Entschuldigen Sie bitte, dass ich zu spät komme.
Please excuse me for coming late.
The standard polite apology in a professional environment.
Die S-Bahn kommt heute schon wieder zu spät.
The suburban train is coming late again today.
A classic German pastime: complaining about the train schedule.
Du darfst nicht immer zu spät kommen.
You must not always come late.
Used here to express a rule or expectation of behavior.
Ich komme nicht zu spät, ich setze nur Prioritäten!
I'm not late, I'm just setting priorities!
A cheeky way to deflect blame for being unpunctual.
Es verletzt mich, wenn du zu unserem Date zu spät kommst.
It hurts me when you come late to our date.
Expressing feelings about someone's lack of punctuality.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'kommen' in the present tense.
Entschuldigung, ich ___ heute 5 Minuten zu spät.
The subject is 'ich', so the verb 'kommen' must end in '-e'.
Which sentence is correct in the past tense?
How do you say 'I arrived late'?
'Kommen' uses 'sein' as an auxiliary and the past participle is 'gekommen'.
Match the excuse to the situation.
Situation: You are late for a meeting because of traffic.
'Stau' means traffic jam, which is a common reason for being late.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum bist du nicht pünktlich? B: Tut mir leid, mein {der|m} Bus ___ ___ ___.
The dialogue asks 'Why *are* you not (now)', implying the arrival already happened in the past.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
German vs. English Lateness
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEntschuldigung, ich ___ heute 5 Minuten zu spät.
The subject is 'ich', so the verb 'kommen' must end in '-e'.
How do you say 'I arrived late'?
'Kommen' uses 'sein' as an auxiliary and the past participle is 'gekommen'.
Situation: You are late for a meeting because of traffic.
'Stau' means traffic jam, which is a common reason for being late.
A: Warum bist du nicht pünktlich? B: Tut mir leid, mein {der|m} Bus ___ ___ ___.
The dialogue asks 'Why *are* you not (now)', implying the arrival already happened in the past.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is colloquially understood, but grammatically 'Ich komme zu spät' or 'Ich bin zu spät dran' is much better.
'Zu spät kommen' is the everyday phrase. 'Sich verspäten' is more formal and often used in professional or official contexts.
Yes, for a casual party, arriving 15-30 minutes late is usually fine. This is sometimes called the 'akademisches Viertel'.
Say: 'Entschuldigung für die {die|f} Verspätung' or 'Tut mir leid, dass ich zu spät gekommen bin.'
No, it can also apply to vehicles like trains, buses, or even the mail.
It literally means 'too late'.
You can use it to explain why you are late, but being late for a job interview is highly discouraged in Germany!
People might say 'Ich hab's verpeilt' (I messed up the timing) if they are late because they forgot.
'Kommen' focuses on the act of arriving at the person/place you are meeting. 'Ankommen' is more about the completion of a journey.
The opposite is 'pünktlich kommen' or 'zu früh kommen' (to arrive too early).
Yes, it is the standard phrase in all German-speaking countries.
For a deadline, you would usually say 'die {die|f} Frist verpassen' or 'zu spät abgeben'.
Related Phrases
pünktlich sein
contrastTo be on time
sich verspäten
synonymTo be delayed
Verspätung haben
similarTo have a delay
spät dran sein
similarTo be running late
verpassen
builds onTo miss (a train/bus)
