Language/Tosk-albanian/Grammar/Time-and-Dates
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we will explore how to express time and dates in Tosk Albanian. Time and dates are essential aspects of language, allowing us to communicate when events occur and schedule our lives. Mastering this topic will enable you to engage in conversations about appointments, birthdays, holidays, and other time-related topics. We will cover the vocabulary and grammar needed to discuss time and dates accurately.
First, we will start with the basics of telling time in Tosk Albanian. Then we will move on to discussing specific time expressions, including days, months, and years. Finally, we will practice with various exercises to solidify your understanding. By the end of this lesson, you will feel confident in expressing and understanding time and dates in Tosk Albanian.
Telling Time[edit | edit source]
To tell time in Tosk Albanian, we use a combination of numbers and specific words. Let's start by learning the words for the hours:
| Tosk Albanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ora një | oh-rah nyuh | one o'clock |
| ora dy | oh-rah dee | two o'clock |
| ora tre | oh-rah treh | three o'clock |
| ora katër | oh-rah kah-tuhr | four o'clock |
| ora pesë | oh-rah peh-suh | five o'clock |
| ora gjashtë | oh-rah gyah-shtuh | six o'clock |
| ora shtatë | oh-rah shtah-tuh | seven o'clock |
| ora tetë | oh-rah teh-tuh | eight o'clock |
| ora nëntë | oh-rah nyuhn-tuh | nine o'clock |
| ora dhjetë | oh-rah dyuh-tyuh | ten o'clock |
| ora njëmbëdhjetë | oh-rah nyuhm-buh-dyuh-tyuh | eleven o'clock |
| ora dymbëdhjetë | oh-rah dyuhm-buh-dyuh-tyuh | twelve o'clock |
To express minutes, we use the numbers from one to fifty-nine. Here are some examples:
| Tosk Albanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| një minutë | nyuh mih-nyoo-tuh | one minute |
| pesë minuta | peh-suh mih-noo-tuh | five minutes |
| tetëmbëdhjetë minuta | teh-tyuhm-buh-dyuh-tyuh mih-noo-tuh | eighteen minutes |
| tridhjetë minuta | tree-dyuh-tyuh mih-noo-tuh | thirty minutes |
| pesëdhjetë minuta | peh-suh-dyuh-tyuh mih-noo-tuh | fifty minutes |
To specify "half past the hour," we use the word "e gjysmë." Here are some examples:
| Tosk Albanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ora një e gjysmë | oh-rah nyuh eh ghyshm | half past one |
| ora tetë e gjysmë | oh-rah teh-tuh eh ghyshm | half past eight |
To express "quarter past the hour," we use the word "çerek." Here are some examples:
| Tosk Albanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ora dy çerek | oh-rah dee cheh-rek | quarter past two |
| ora pesë çerek | oh-rah peh-suh cheh-rek | quarter past five |
To express "quarter to the hour," we use the word "çerek para." Here are some examples:
| Tosk Albanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ora katër çerek para dy | oh-rah kah-tuhr cheh-rek pah-rah dee | quarter to two |
| ora nëntë çerek para shtatë | oh-rah nyuhn-tuh cheh-rek pah-rah shtah-tuh | quarter to seven |
When telling time, we combine the hour and minute expressions. For example:
- "It is 3:15." -> "Është ora tre e pesëmbëdhjetë." - "It is 6:30." -> "Është ora gjashtë e gjysmë."
Now that we have covered the basics of telling time, let's move on to discussing specific time expressions.
Days of the Week[edit | edit source]
In Tosk Albanian, the days of the week are:
- Hënë (Monday)
- Martë (Tuesday)
- Mërkurë (Wednesday)
- Enjte (Thursday)
- Premte (Friday)
- Shabbat (Saturday)
- Djele (Sunday)
To refer to a specific day, we use the word "ditë" (day) followed by the corresponding day of the week. For example:
- "Today is Monday." -> "Sot është e hënë." - "I have an appointment on Wednesday." -> "Kam një takim të mërkurën."
Months of the Year[edit | edit source]
In Tosk Albanian, the months of the year are:
- Janar (January)
- Shkurt (February)
- Mars (March)
- Prill (April)
- Maj (May)
- Qershor (June)
- Korrik (July)
- Gusht (August)
- Shtator (September)
- Tetor (October)
- Nëntor (November)
- Dhjetor (December)
To refer to a specific month, we use the word "muaj" (month) followed by the corresponding month of the year. For example:
- "My birthday is in May." -> "Ditëlindja ime është në maj." - "The conference is scheduled for October." -> "Konferenca është caktuar për tetor."
Years[edit | edit source]
In Tosk Albanian, to express a year, we use the word "viti" (year) followed by the specific year. For example:
- "The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1912." -> "Deklarata e Pavarësisë u nënshkrua në vitin 1912." - "I was born in 1990." -> "U linda në vitin 1990."
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
The concept of time and dates is essential in the Albanian culture. Albanians place great importance on punctuality and keeping track of significant events. It is customary to arrive on time for appointments and social gatherings. Being late is considered disrespectful and may be interpreted as a lack of interest or commitment.
Albania has experienced various historical events that have influenced the way time and dates are perceived. The country's transition from communism to democracy in the early 1990s brought significant changes in daily life, including the way time is managed and celebrated. Today, Albania follows the Gregorian calendar and celebrates both national and religious holidays.
One interesting cultural fact is that Albanians often celebrate their name days, known as "Dita e Emrit." These name days are based on the Catholic and Orthodox Christian calendars and are as significant as birthdays. It is common for friends and family members to gather and celebrate with traditional food and drinks.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to practice what you've learned. Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of expressing time and dates in Tosk Albanian.
Exercise 1: Translate the following sentences into Tosk Albanian: 1. "It is 7:45." 2. "My name day is on July 15th." 3. "The concert starts at 8 o'clock." 4. "I have a meeting on Friday." 5. "Her birthday is in November."
Exercise 2: Answer the following questions in Tosk Albanian: 1. "Kur është Dita e Pavarësisë e Shqipërisë?" (When is Albania's Independence Day?) 2. "Cila është muaji i dytë i vitit?" (Which is the second month of the year?) 3. "Kur fillon vjeshta?" (When does autumn start?) 4. "Sa është ora?" (What time is it?) 5. "Kur është festa e Pashkëve?" (When is Easter?)
Solutions[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1: 1. "Është ora shtatë e pesëmbëdhjetë." 2. "Dita ime e emrit është më 15 korrik." 3. "Koncerti fillon në ora tetë." 4. "Kam një takim të premten." 5. "Ditëlindja e saj është në nëntor."
Exercise 2: 1. "Dita e Pavarësisë e Shqipërisë është më 28 nëntor." 2. "Muaji i dytë i vitit është shkurt." 3. "Vjeshta fillon më 23 shtator." 4. "Është ora katër." 5. "Festa e Pashkëve ndodh në datë të ndryshme çdo vit."
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on expressing time and dates in Tosk Albanian. You have learned how to tell time, discuss days of the week, months of the year, and years. You have also gained insights into the cultural significance of time and dates in Albania. Keep practicing and applying your knowledge in real-life situations to further enhance your language skills. In the next lesson, we will explore adjectives and adverbs in Tosk Albanian.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Verbs and Present Tense
- How to Use Be
- Nouns and Gender
- Questions
- To Be and To Have
- Question Words
- Gender
- Cardinal Numbers
- Negation
- Personal pronouns
| ◀️ Cardinal Numbers — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Adjectives and Nouns Agreement ▶️ |