The German word for second (as in a unit of time) is die Sekunde.
It’s used to count time, measure reactions, and describe those quick, fleeting moments—whether you’re checking the clock or saying “just a sec.” Sekunde in German pops up constantly in speech, schedules, and storytelling.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (and yes, you can download the free illustrated PDF to learn them all), making it essential for fluent and practical conversation.
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a feminine noun: die Sekunde.
Want a shortcut to mastering noun gender in German? This video lesson shows you the patterns that really help.
Pronunciation:
Sekunde is pronounced [zeh-KOON-duh]
“zeh” like “say” with a soft ‘z’
“KOON” rhymes with “moon”
“duh” like “duh” in English
Three syllables: zeh-KOON-duh
Example sentences
Warte nur eine Sekunde!
Just wait a second!
In der letzten Sekunde hat er den Ball gehalten.
He saved the ball in the last second.
Sie braucht nur ein paar Sekunden, um fertig zu sein.
She just needs a few seconds to get ready.
Nuance and usage tips
⏱️ Sekunde refers to the unit of time (1/60 of a minute), and is used just like in English.
⏳ It's often used in casual speech to say “just a moment” or “really quick”: Gib mir eine Sekunde = “Give me a second.”
💥 In dramatic storytelling, you’ll hear it in phrases like im allerletzten Moment or in der allerletzten Sekunde—“in the very last second.”
🎶 In music and physics, Sekunde can also appear in technical discussions about timing, intervals, or frequency.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
"Hast du eine Sekunde Zeit?"
Do you have a second?
"Das hat nur ein paar Sekunden gedauert."
That only took a few seconds.
"Ich dachte für eine Sekunde, es wäre ein Traum."
For a second, I thought it was a dream.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Timo: Kommst du? Der Bus fährt gleich!
Nina: Eine Sekunde noch – ich such mein Handy!
Timo: Wir haben keine Zeit mehr!
Nina: Gefunden! Los geht’s!
Translation:
Timo: Are you coming? The bus is leaving soon!
Nina: One second—I’m looking for my phone!
Timo: We’re out of time!
Nina: Found it! Let’s go!
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:
Die Sekunde verging wie im Flug.
The second flew by.
Accusative:
Ich brauche nur eine Sekunde.
I just need a second.
Dative:
In der Sekunde danach wurde es still.
In the second that followed, it became quiet.
Genitive:
Die Spannung der letzten Sekunde war kaum auszuhalten.
The tension of the last second was unbearable.
Other ways to say second in German
While Sekunde is the standard word for second in German, alternatives depend on meaning. For example, if you mean a second person (like a second-in-command), Germans might say zweite Person or Assistent. In timing and pace, phrases like ein kurzer Moment or Augenblick (moment, blink of an eye) can substitute Sekunde in casual speech.
Word variations and tidbits
You’ll find Sekunde in common compounds like Millisekunde (millisecond), Stoppuhr-Sekunden (stopwatch seconds), and Sekundenkleber (super glue—“seconds glue,” because it sets fast!). There’s also Sekundenbruchteil (fraction of a second) and Sekundenzeiger (second hand on a clock). It’s one of those simple words that scales from everyday talk to precision instruments.
🧠 Fun fact: Like in English, Sekunde comes from the Latin secunda pars minuta—the second small part of an hour, following the “prime” minute. You’re literally speaking a little Latin every time you say it!
📘 Duden entry for Sekunde
🎥 Want to make every second count in your German learning? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 nouns—with examples, memory tips, and a printable PDF to track your progress, second by second.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Sinn means? It gives every Sekunde a purpose.
And what about Spieler? Sometimes, all it takes is one to turn the clock around.