Language/Romanian/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of telling time in Romanian. Being able to tell time is an essential skill in any language and can be particularly useful when traveling or making plans. In Romanian, the system for telling time follows a similar structure to that of other Romance languages. We will explore how to express both the hours and minutes, and provide numerous examples to help you grasp this concept.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently read and express time in Romanian, allowing you to effectively communicate and understand schedules, appointments, and daily routines. So let's get started!
The Basics of Telling Time[edit | edit source]
Expressing the Hours[edit | edit source]
In Romanian, the 12-hour clock system is used to tell time. To express the hours, we use the word "ora" (hour) followed by the number. Here are the numbers from 1 to 12 in Romanian:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| un | oon | one |
| doi | doy | two |
| trei | tray | three |
| patru | pahtroo | four |
| cinci | cheench | five |
| șase | shahse | six |
| șapte | shahpthe | seven |
| opt | opt | eight |
| nouă | nooah | nine |
| zece | zekay | ten |
| unsprezece | oonsprezechay | eleven |
| doisprezece | doyisprezechay | twelve |
To express a specific hour, we simply add the corresponding number after "ora". For example:
- "Ora unu" means "one o'clock". - "Ora cinci" means "five o'clock". - "Ora zece" means "ten o'clock".
Expressing the Minutes[edit | edit source]
To express the minutes, we use the word "și" (and) followed by the number. Here are the numbers from 1 to 59 in Romanian:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| unu | oonoo | one |
| doi | doy | two |
| trei | tray | three |
| patru | pahtroo | four |
| cinci | cheench | five |
| șase | shahse | six |
| șapte | shahpthe | seven |
| opt | opt | eight |
| nouă | nooah | nine |
| zece | zekay | ten |
| unsprezece | oonsprezechay | eleven |
| doisprezece | doyisprezechay | twelve |
| treisprezece | traysprezechay | thirteen |
| paisprezece | paeesprezechay | fourteen |
| cincisprezece | cheenchisprezechay | fifteen |
| șaisprezece | shahisprezechay | sixteen |
| șaptesprezece | shahptesprezechay | seventeen |
| optsprezece | optsprezechay | eighteen |
| nouăsprezece | nooahsprezechay | nineteen |
| douăzeci | dooahzetch | twenty |
| douăzeci și unu | dooahzetch she oonoo | twenty-one |
| douăzeci și doi | dooahzetch she doy | twenty-two |
| douăzeci și trei | dooahzetch she tray | twenty-three |
| treizeci | trayzetch | thirty |
| patruzeci | pahtroozetch | forty |
| cincizeci | cheenchizetch | fifty |
| șaizeci | shahizetch | sixty |
| șaptezeci | shahptezetch | seventy |
| optzeci | optzetch | eighty |
| nouăzeci | nooahzetch | ninety |
| o sută | o soota | one hundred |
To express a specific minute, we simply add the corresponding number after "și". For example:
- "Ora unu și zece" means "one ten" or "ten past one". - "Ora cinci și douăzeci" means "five twenty" or "twenty past five". - "Ora zece și cinci" means "ten five" or "five past ten".
It's important to note that when expressing the hour and minute together, we use the word "și" (and) between them. For example:
- "Ora patru și cinci" means "four five" or "five past four". - "Ora unsprezece și treizeci" means "eleven thirty" or "half past eleven".
Expressing "Minutes to" and "Minutes past"[edit | edit source]
In Romanian, we can also express time using the phrases "la" (to) and "și" (past). These phrases are used to indicate the minutes before or after the hour. Let's see some examples:
- "Ora unu la zece" means "ten to one" or "fifty minutes past twelve". - "Ora cinci și douăzeci și cinci" means "twenty-five past five" or "five twenty-five". - "Ora zece și cinci la unsprezece" means "five to eleven" or "fifty-five minutes past ten".
These phrases can be used interchangeably with the previous examples, depending on personal preference or regional variations.
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
As with any language, cultural insights can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation for the topic at hand. In Romanian culture, punctuality is highly valued. It is considered polite and respectful to arrive on time for appointments and meetings. Being able to tell time accurately and express it correctly in Romanian will help you navigate social and professional situations with ease.
Romania also observes Daylight Saving Time, known as "Ora de vară" (Summer Time) and "Ora de iarnă" (Winter Time). The clocks are adjusted forward by one hour in the summer and back by one hour in the winter. This practice is in line with many other countries around the world and is designed to optimize daylight hours.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you have learned.
Exercise 1: Translate the following times from English to Romanian:
1. Ten o'clock 2. Four thirty 3. Twenty-five past two 4. Five to eight 5. Half past twelve
Solution: 1. Ora zece 2. Ora patru și treizeci 3. Ora două și douăzeci și cinci 4. Ora opt și cinci 5. Ora doisprezece și jumătate
Exercise 2: Translate the following times from Romanian to English:
1. Ora unsprezece și zece 2. Ora șapte și treizeci 3. Ora cinci și douăzeci 4. Ora două și cincizeci 5. Ora opt la șase
Solution: 1. Eleven ten 2. Seven thirty 3. Five twenty 4. Two fifty 5. Eight to six
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have successfully completed the lesson on telling time in Romanian. By now, you should feel confident in expressing the hours and minutes, as well as understanding various time expressions. Remember, practice makes perfect, so continue to reinforce your knowledge by using the language in real-life situations.
In the next lesson, we will explore the topic of adjectives and adverbs in Romanian. This will allow you to describe people, places, and things, and express intensity and manner. Stay motivated and keep up the great work!
Videos[edit | edit source]
WHAT TIME IS IT? | Telling the Time in Romanian #1 - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Telling Time in Romanian - Everything You Need to Know
- How to say the 12 months in Romanian
- Basic Romanian Sentence Patterns You Can Use Right Away
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to say Good Bye?
- Useful Phrases
- Verbs in Romanian
- Health and Medical Terms
- Count from 1 to 10
- Fruits
- Common Locations
- Numbers 1 10
- Common Foods
- Animals
| ◀️ Numbers 1-10 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Basic Adjectives ▶️ |