Language/Slovak/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Slovak → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time

As we embark on this lesson about telling time in Slovak, it's essential to understand not just the words, but the cultural context behind them. Time is an integral part of our daily lives, and being able to express it accurately in a new language can enhance your interactions and experiences significantly. Whether you're planning a meeting, scheduling a dinner, or simply asking someone when it is, knowing how to tell time is a fundamental skill.

In this lesson, we will explore both the 12-hour and 24-hour clock systems used in Slovak. You will learn essential vocabulary, phrases, and grammatical structures that will help you navigate conversations involving time.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Basics of telling time in Slovak

• Vocabulary related to time

• How to use the 12-hour and 24-hour formats

• Examples to illustrate the concepts

• Exercises for practice

Basics of Telling Time

To tell time in Slovak, you need to familiarize yourself with a few key phrases and numbers. The structure is relatively straightforward, and with a bit of practice, you’ll be telling time like a local in no time!

1. The Hour: The hour is expressed with the word "hodina" (hour).

2. Minutes: Minutes are expressed as "minúta" (minute) in singular and "minúty" (minutes) in plural.

3. It is: To start your sentence, you use "Je" (It is).

4. Half and Quarter: You use "pol" (half) and "štvrť" (quarter) for expressing half past and a quarter past/to.

Vocabulary Related to Time

Let’s break down the vocabulary you need to tell time in Slovak. Below is a table containing essential terms:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
hodina	[ho-dee-na]	hour
minúta	[mi-noo-ta]	minute
sekunda	[se-kun-da]	second
pol	[pol]	half
štvrť	[shtvurt]	quarter
ráno	[ra-no]	morning
popoludní	[po-po-lud-nee]	afternoon
večer	[ve-cher]	evening
noc	[nots]	night

12-Hour Clock Format

In Slovakia, the 12-hour clock format is commonly used in everyday conversation. Here’s how you express time:

• For Hours 1 to 12:

• "Je jedenásť hodín." (It is eleven o'clock.)

• "Je šesť hodín." (It is six o'clock.)

• Adding Minutes:

• "Je jedenásť a päť minút." (It is eleven and five minutes.)

• "Je šesť a dvadsať minút." (It is six and twenty minutes.)

• Half Past:

• "Je pol dvanástej." (It is half past twelve.)

• Quarter Past:

• "Je štvrť po tretej." (It is a quarter past three.)

• Quarter To:

• "Je štvrť pred šiestou." (It is a quarter to six.)

24-Hour Clock Format

The 24-hour clock is also widely used, especially in formal situations and written communications. Here’s how it works:

• For Hours 0 to 23:

• "Je 14:00." (It is 14:00 or 2 o'clock PM.)

• "Je 18:30." (It is 18:30 or 6:30 PM.)

• Adding Minutes:

• "Je 09:15." (It is 09:15 or 9:15 AM.)

• Half Past:

• "Je 21:30." (It is 21:30 or 9:30 PM.)

• Quarter Past:

• "Je 15:45." (It is 15:45 or a quarter to 4 PM.)

• Quarter To:

• "Je 22:15." (It is 22:15 or a quarter past 10 PM.)

Example Sentences

To illustrate the concepts we’ve discussed, let’s look at a few practical examples in context:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Je päť hodín.	[ye pęť ho-deen]	It is five o'clock.
Je pol jedenástej.	[ye pol ye-de-na-stei]	It is half past eleven.
Je štvrť po ôsmej.	[ye shtvurt po oh-smei]	It is a quarter past eight.
Je šesť a tridsať minút.	[ye shest a tree-dsa-ty minoot]	It is six and thirty minutes.
Je deväť hodín večer.	[ye de-vyat ho-deen ve-cher]	It is nine o'clock in the evening.
Je tretia hodina popoludní.	[ye tre-ti-a ho-dee-na po-po-lud-nee]	It is three o'clock in the afternoon.
Je dvadsať minút pred piatou.	[ye dvad-sat mi-noot pred pyatou]	It is twenty minutes to five.
Je osemnásť hodín.	[ye oh-semnast ho-deen]	It is eighteen o'clock.
Je päť hodín a päť minút.	[ye pęt ho-deen a pęt mi-noot]	It is five o'clock and five minutes.
Je štyridsať minút po jedenástej.	[ye sh-teer-di-sat mi-noot po ye-de-na-stei]	It is forty minutes past eleven.

Practice Exercises

Now that you’ve learned the vocabulary and structure for telling time in Slovak, it’s time to practice! Here are some exercises to help you solidify your understanding.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of "Je" and the time in Slovak.

1. _______ (five o'clock).

2. _______ (quarter past three).

3. _______ (half past twelve).

4. _______ (twenty minutes to seven).

5. _______ (eight o'clock in the evening).

Answers:

1. Je päť hodín.

2. Je štvrť po tretej.

3. Je pol dvanástej.

4. Je dvadsať minút pred siedmou.

5. Je osem hodín večer.

Exercise 2: Translate to Slovak

Translate the following sentences into Slovak:

1. It is six and fifteen minutes.

2. It is a quarter to ten.

3. It is eleven o'clock in the morning.

4. It is twenty minutes past five.

5. It is half past eight in the evening.

Answers:

1. Je šesť a pätnásť minút.

2. Je štvrť pred desiatou.

3. Je jedenásť hodín ráno.

4. Je dvadsať minút po piatej.

5. Je pol deviatej večer.

Exercise 3: Convert to 24-Hour Format

Convert the following times from the 12-hour clock to the 24-hour clock:

1. It is three o'clock PM.

2. It is ten o'clock AM.

3. It is half past one AM.

4. It is a quarter past four PM.

5. It is twelve o'clock midnight.

Answers:

1. Je 15:00.

2. Je 10:00.

3. Je 01:30.

4. Je 16:15.

5. Je 00:00.

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

Write five sentences telling the time in Slovak. Use a mix of the 12-hour and 24-hour formats.

Sample Answers:

1. Je deväť hodín ráno. (It is nine o'clock in the morning.)

2. Je pol štvrté. (It is half past three.)

3. Je 18:45. (It is 18:45 or a quarter to seven PM.)

4. Je štvrť po siedmej. (It is a quarter past seven.)

5. Je 21:00. (It is 21:00 or nine o'clock PM.)

Exercise 5: Listening Practice

Listen to a speaker read the following times and write them down in Slovak:

1. 07:30

2. 16:00

3. 02:15

4. 23:45

5. 12:00

Answers:

1. Je 07:30. (It is 07:30 or half past seven.)

2. Je 16:00. (It is 16:00 or four o'clock PM.)

3. Je 02:15. (It is 02:15 or a quarter past two AM.)

4. Je 23:45. (It is 23:45 or a quarter to midnight.)

5. Je 12:00. (It is 12:00 or noon.)

Exercise 6: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct Slovak translation for the given time.

1. It is half past five.

• a) Je pol päť.

• b) Je päť a pol.

2. It is a quarter to two.

• a) Je štvrť po dvoch.

• b) Je štvrť pred druhou.

Answers:

1. a) Je pol päť.

2. b) Je štvrť pred druhou.

Exercise 7: Match the Time

Match the Slovak phrase with the correct time.

1. Je osem hodín.

2. Je pol deviatej.

3. Je pätnásť minút po tretej.

4. Je dvadsať minút pred štvrtou.

5. Je dvanásta hodina.

Answers:

1. 08:00

2. 08:30

3. 03:15

4. 15:40

5. 12:00

Exercise 8: True or False

Determine if the following statements are true or false.

1. "Je pol tretej." means "It is half past two."

2. "Je štvrť po šiestej." means "It is a quarter to six."

3. "Je 14:30." means "It is 2:30 PM."

4. "Je 12:00." means "It is midnight."

5. "Je šesť hodín." means "It is six o'clock."

Answers:

1. True

2. False

3. True

4. False

5. True

Exercise 9: Group Activity

In pairs, take turns asking each other the time in Slovak and responding. Use both the 12-hour and 24-hour formats.

Exercise 10: Reflection

Write a short paragraph reflecting on what you found easy or difficult about telling time in Slovak and how you plan to practice it moving forward.

This lesson has equipped you with the basic tools to tell time in Slovak effectively. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to incorporate this skill into your daily conversations with ease!

Table of Contents - Slovak Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Unit 1: Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions
• Nationalities and Languages

  ---

Unit 2: Nouns, Pronouns, and Verbs in the Present Tense

• Nouns and Pronouns
• The Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• The Verbs 'To Be' and 'To Have'
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Unit 3: Slovak Culture and Society

• Slovak History
• Slovak Traditions and Customs
• Slovak Food and Drink

  ---

Unit 4: Daily Activities and Routine

• Daily Routine
• Free Time
• Chores and Errands

  ---

Unit 5: Cases and Prepositions

• The Genitive Case
• The Locative Case
• Prepositions

  ---

Unit 6: Slovak Geography and Nature

• Regions of Slovakia
• Slovak Nature
• Slovak Folk Tales and Legends

  ---

Unit 7: Travel and Transportation

• Transportation
• Travel and Accommodation
• Directions

  ---

Unit 8: Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
• The Imperfective and Perfective

  ---

Unit 9: Slovak Art and Music

• Slovak Art
• Slovak Music
• Slovak Film and Literature

  ---

Unit 10: Time and Dates

• Telling Time
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Holidays and Celebrations

Sources

• Telling the time in Slovak | coLanguage
• #1 Best Guide To Date And Time In Slovak! - Ling App
• Slovak - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

Other Lessons

• Transportation
• Idiomatic Expressions
• Health
• Jobs
• Directions
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year
• Colors
• Election
• Parts of the Body
• Family

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