Language/Standard-estonian/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on telling time in Estonian! In this lesson, we will learn how to express hours, minutes, and different parts of the day in Estonian. Telling time is an essential skill for everyday communication, and it allows you to schedule appointments, catch trains, and meet up with friends. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently ask and answer questions about the time in Estonian.
Telling time in Estonian is relatively straightforward, but it does require some knowledge of numbers and basic vocabulary. If you haven't already done so, make sure to check out the previous lesson on "Numbers 1-100" to familiarize yourself with the Estonian number system. This will greatly help you in understanding and expressing time.
In this lesson, we will start by reviewing the vocabulary for different parts of the day and then move on to expressing specific times using hours and minutes. We will also explore any regional variations in the usage of time expressions and share interesting cultural facts related to telling time in Estonia. Finally, we will practice what we have learned through various exercises and scenarios.
So let's dive in and learn how to tell time in Estonian!
Parts of the Day[edit | edit source]
Before we can start expressing specific times, let's first review the vocabulary for different parts of the day in Estonian. Knowing these terms will help us understand and communicate time expressions more effectively.
Here are the main parts of the day in Estonian:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| hommik | hoh-mik | morning |
| lõuna | luh-nah | noon |
| pärastlõuna | pah-rahst-luh-nah | afternoon |
| õhtu | ooht-oo | evening |
| öö | oo | night |
Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the parts of the day, let's move on to expressing specific times.
Expressing Hours[edit | edit source]
To express hours in Estonian, we use the numbers from 1 to 12 followed by the word "tund" (hour). Here are the numbers in Estonian:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| üks | yks | one |
| kaks | kahks | two |
| kolm | kohlm | three |
| neli | neh-lee | four |
| viis | vees | five |
| kuus | kohs | six |
| seitse | sait-seh | seven |
| kaheksa | kah-hek-sah | eight |
| üheksa | yeh-khek-sah | nine |
| kümme | kuhm-meh | ten |
| üksteist | yks-tayst | eleven |
| kaksteist | kahk-stayst | twelve |
To express a specific hour, we simply combine the corresponding number with the word "tund." For example:
- üks tund (one hour)
- kolm tundi (three hours)
- kaheksa tundi (eight hours)
When the hour is exactly on the hour, we can omit the word "tund" and simply state the number. For example:
- kaks (two o'clock)
- seitse (seven o'clock)
It's important to note that Estonians use a 12-hour clock system, so it's common to hear expressions like "kaks hommikul" (two in the morning) or "seitse õhtul" (seven in the evening) to specify the part of the day along with the hour.
Expressing Minutes[edit | edit source]
To express minutes in Estonian, we use the numbers from 1 to 60 followed by the word "minut" (minute). Here are the numbers in Estonian:
| Standard Estonian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| üks | yks | one |
| kaks | kahks | two |
| kolm | kohlm | three |
| neli | neh-lee | four |
| viis | vees | five |
| kuus | kohs | six |
| seitse | sait-seh | seven |
| kaheksa | kah-hek-sah | eight |
| üheksa | yeh-khek-sah | nine |
| kümme | kuhm-meh | ten |
| üksteist | yks-tayst | eleven |
| kaksteist | kahk-stayst | twelve |
| kolmteist | kohlm-tayst | thirteen |
| neliteist | neh-lee-tayst | fourteen |
| viisteist | vees-tayst | fifteen |
| kuusteist | kohs-tayst | sixteen |
| seitseteist | sait-seh-tayst | seventeen |
| kaheksateist | kah-hek-sah-tayst | eighteen |
| üheksateist | yeh-khek-sah-tayst | nineteen |
| kakskümmend | kahks-kuhm-mehnd | twenty |
| kakskümmend üks | kahks-kuhm-mehnd yks | twenty-one |
| kakskümmend kaks | kahks-kuhm-mehnd kahks | twenty-two |
| kolmkümmend | kohlm-kuhm-mehnd | thirty |
| nelikümmend | neh-lee-kuhm-mehnd | forty |
| viiskümmend | vees-kuhm-mehnd | fifty |
| kuuskümmend | kohs-kuhm-mehnd | sixty |
To express a specific number of minutes, we simply combine the corresponding number with the word "minut." For example:
- kümme minutit (ten minutes)
- kakskümmend viis minutit (twenty-five minutes)
When the minute is exactly on the hour, we can omit the word "minut" and simply state the number. For example:
- viis (five minutes past)
- kolmkümmend (thirty minutes past)
To express minutes before the hour, we use the word "vähem" (less) followed by the number of minutes. For example:
- viis minutit vähem (five minutes to)
- kolmkümmend minutit vähem (thirty minutes to)
Telling Time in Practice[edit | edit source]
Now that we have learned how to express hours and minutes in Estonian, let's practice asking and answering questions about the time. Here are some examples:
Example 1[edit | edit source]
Asking the time:
- Mis aeg on? (What time is it?)
Answering the time:
- Kell on üks. (It is one o'clock.)
- Kell on kaks. (It is two o'clock.)
- Kell on kolm. (It is three o'clock.)
Example 2[edit | edit source]
Asking the time:
- Mis aeg sul on? (What time do you have?)
Answering the time:
- Mul on viis minutit üle ühe. (I have five minutes past one.)
- Mul on kolmveerand viis. (I have a quarter to five.)
- Mul on pool kaksteist. (I have half past eleven.)
Example 3[edit | edit source]
Asking the time:
- Mis kell on? (What time is it?)
Answering the time:
- Kell on kolmteist minutit üle kümne. (It is thirteen minutes past ten.)
- Kell on kakskümmend minutit kaheksa. (It is twenty minutes to eight.)
- Kell on viis minutit üle kahe. (It is five minutes past two.)
Remember to practice asking and answering questions about the time with your classmates or language exchange partners to improve your fluency and confidence.
Cultural Insight[edit | edit source]
In Estonia, punctuality is highly valued. Estonians are known for being precise and efficient in their daily lives, and being on time is considered a sign of respect. It is important to be mindful of this cultural expectation and make an effort to arrive at appointments or meetings on time.
Additionally, it's worth noting that Estonians often use the 24-hour clock system in formal or professional settings. This means that instead of saying "kaks hommikul" (two in the morning), they would say "kell kaks" (at two o'clock). However, in casual conversations or everyday situations, the 12-hour clock system is more commonly used.
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[edit | edit source]
Translate the following time expressions from English to Estonian:
- 9:30 am
- 4:45 pm
- 7:20 pm
- 12:15 pm
Solution:
- 9:30 am - kell üheksa kolmkümmend hommikul
- 4:45 pm - kell viis minutit üle viie õhtul
- 7:20 pm - kell kakskümmend minutit üle seitsme õhtul
- 12:15 pm - kell viisteist minutit üle kaheteistkümne päeval
Exercise 2[edit | edit source]
Answer the following questions in Estonian:
- Mis aeg sul on, kui kell on viis minutit vähem kui kümme?
- Mis aeg sul on, kui kell on kolmveerand üks?
- Mis aeg sul on, kui kell on pool kuus õhtul?
Solution:
- Mis aeg sul on, kui kell on viis minutit vähem kui kümme? - Mul on viis minutit vähem kui kümme.
- Mis aeg sul on, kui kell on kolmveerand üks? - Mul on kolmveerand üks.
- Mis aeg sul on, kui kell on pool kuus õhtul? - Mul on pool kuus õhtul.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have now learned how to tell time in Estonian. You can confidently express hours, minutes, and different parts of the day using the vocabulary and grammar structures covered in this lesson. Make sure to practice what you have learned in real-life situations to further improve your skills.
In the next lesson, we will continue to expand our vocabulary and explore the topic of verbs and tenses in Estonian. See you there!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Airport
- Idiomatic Expressions
- Drinks
- Food
- Hobbies and Free Time
- Modes of Transportation
- Basic Phrases
- Animal
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Work and Professions
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