Language/Kirghiz/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Kirghiz → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Time → Telling Time

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the world of numbers and time in the Kirghiz language. Understanding how to tell time is an essential skill for everyday communication, and it allows us to schedule appointments, catch trains, and plan our daily activities effectively. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask for and tell the time in Kirghiz, as well as express various time-related phrases.

We will start by learning the Kirghiz cardinal numbers from 1 to 100, which will serve as the foundation for telling time. Then, we will explore the specific vocabulary and phrases used to talk about time in Kirghiz. Throughout the lesson, I will provide numerous examples and exercises to ensure that you grasp the concepts fully.

Additionally, we will discover any regional variations in the usage or understanding of the topic. Kirghiz culture has a unique perspective on time, influenced by its nomadic heritage and historical events. We will also explore interesting cultural facts and anecdotes related to time in Kirghiz culture.

So, let's dive into the fascinating world of Kirghiz numbers and time!

Cardinal Numbers

Before we can tell the time, we need to learn the Kirghiz cardinal numbers from 1 to 100. These numbers are the building blocks for expressing any quantity or counting objects in Kirghiz. Let's start with the numbers from 1 to 10:

Kirghiz	Pronunciation	English
бир	bir	one
эки	eki	two
үч	üch	three
төрт	tört	four
беш	beş	five
алты	alty	six
жети	jeti	seven
сегиз	segiz	eight
тогуз	toğuz	nine
он	on	ten

Once you have memorized these numbers, you can easily count up to 100 by combining them. For example, to say 15, you would say "он беш" (on beş), which translates to "ten five" in English. Here are some more examples:

Kirghiz	Pronunciation	English
11	он бир	on bir
23	жети эки	jeti eki
37	кырк жети	kırk jeti
50	элңү алты	elnü alty
99	тогуз төрт	toğuz tört
100	жүз	jüz

Take your time to practice these numbers until you feel comfortable with them. It's essential to have a solid grasp of the cardinal numbers before moving on to telling time.

Telling Time

Now that we have mastered the cardinal numbers, let's learn how to tell time in Kirghiz. In Kirghiz, we use a combination of numbers and specific time-related vocabulary to express different times of the day. Here are some useful phrases to help you convey the current time:

• What time is it? - Кандай сагат? (Kanday sagat?)
• It's one o'clock. - Сагат бир. (Sagat bir.)
• It's half past two. - Сагат экинчи бирде бири. (Sagat ekinçi birde biri.)
• It's quarter to three. - Сагат үчөн чейинки бирде бири. (Sagat üçöñ çeyinki birde biri.)

To express the time in Kirghiz, we follow a similar structure to English. Let's break it down:

1. Start with the phrase "сагат" (sagat), which means "clock" or "hour." 2. Add the number for the hour. For example, "бир" (bir) for one, "эки" (eki) for two, and so on. 3. Use additional vocabulary to specify the minutes. For example, "экинчи бирде" (ekinçi birde) for half past, "үчөн чейинки бирде" (üçöñ çeyinki birde) for quarter to, and so on. 4. Finally, add the word "бири" (biri) at the end to indicate the time. This word can be omitted when the time is exactly on the hour.

Let's see some examples:

Kirghiz	Pronunciation	English
Сагат бир.	Sagat bir.	It's one o'clock.
Сагат экинчи бирде бири.	Sagat ekinçi birde biri.	It's half past two.
Сагат үчөн чейинки бирде бири.	Sagat üçöñ çeyinki birde biri.	It's quarter to three.
Сагат жети беш.	Sagat jeti beş.	It's seven five.

As you can see, telling time in Kirghiz is relatively straightforward once you understand the structure. Practice saying different times using the examples provided and try to create your own sentences.

Cultural Insights

In Kirghiz culture, time is viewed differently compared to many Western cultures. Traditional Kirghiz society was based on a nomadic lifestyle, where the concept of time revolved around the movement of the sun, seasons, and natural cycles. For the Kirghiz people, time was not measured in hours and minutes, but rather in relation to natural phenomena and daily activities.

Even today, Kirghiz people maintain a strong connection to nature and the environment. The concept of "ak koyun" (white sheep) and "kara koyun" (black sheep) is commonly used to indicate daytime and nighttime, respectively. This reflects the traditional reliance on sheep herding, where the color of the sheep would indicate the time of day.

Additionally, Kirghiz culture places importance on punctuality and respecting other people's time. Arriving late to an appointment or meeting is considered disrespectful and may negatively impact personal and professional relationships. It is always a good practice to be aware of cultural norms and strive to be punctual when interacting with Kirghiz people.

Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you have learned! Try to complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of Kirghiz numbers and telling time. Solutions and explanations will be provided afterward.

Exercise 1: Cardinal Numbers Match the Kirghiz cardinal numbers with their English translations:

• беш
• элңү
• кырк
• алты
• он
• жети
• бир
• тогуз
• төрт
• үч

Solutions:

• беш - five
• элңү - fifty
• кырк - forty
• алты - six
• он - ten
• жети - seven
• бир - one
• тогуз - nine
• төрт - four
• үч - three

Exercise 2: Telling Time Translate the following English phrases into Kirghiz:

1. It's two o'clock. 2. It's half past nine. 3. It's quarter to six. 4. It's seven twenty-five.

Solutions: 1. Сагат эки. (Sagat eki.) 2. Сагат тогуздан бирде бири. (Sagat toğuzdan birde biri.) 3. Сагат алтыӊ чейинки бирде бири. (Sagat altyıñ çeyinki birde biri.) 4. Сагат жети алты. (Sagat jeti alty.)

Summary

In this lesson, we have explored the world of numbers and time in the Kirghiz language. We started by learning the Kirghiz cardinal numbers from 1 to 100, which are essential for expressing any quantity or counting objects. Then, we delved into telling time in Kirghiz, using a combination of numbers and time-related vocabulary to convey different times of the day.

We also gained insights into the cultural aspects of time in Kirghiz culture, highlighting the influence of traditional nomadic lifestyles and the importance of punctuality.

Now that you have a solid foundation in Kirghiz numbers and time, you are ready to move on to the next lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Kirghiz Course." Keep practicing and honing your skills, and soon you will be able to navigate Kirghiz conversations with ease!

Table of Contents - Kirghiz Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Object-Verb Order
• Negation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal Numbers
• Ordinal Numbers
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Cases
• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Status

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Food and Dining

• Meals and Ingredients
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Kirghiz Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Clothing

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Seasons
• Weather Conditions

  ---

Kirghiz Literature and Music

• Famous Writers and Poets
• Traditional Music and Instruments

Sources

• Kirghiz - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

Other Lessons

• Time
• Vegetables
• Drinks
• Climate
• Geography
• Colors
• Education
• Health
• Basic Greetings

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