Language/Croatian/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Croatian → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time

Welcome to the Croatian lesson on telling time! Understanding how to tell time is an essential skill in any language, and it opens up a world of possibilities for conversation and daily interactions. Whether you’re planning to meet a friend, catch a bus, or join a meeting, being able to express and ask about time is crucial. In Croatian, telling time can be a little different from English, but with some practice, you will master it in no time!

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

Understanding the 24-Hour Clock

In Croatia, the 24-hour clock is commonly used, especially in formal settings like train schedules, public transport, or business hours. However, you might also encounter the 12-hour clock in casual conversations. Let’s explore how to express time using both formats.

The 24-Hour Clock

The 24-hour clock runs from 00:00 (midnight) to 23:59. Here's how to express time:

• 00:00 – ponoć (midnight)

• 01:00 – jedan sat (1:00 AM)

• 12:00 – podne (noon)

• 15:00 – tri sata poslijepodne (3:00 PM)

• 23:00 – jedanaest sati navečer (11:00 PM)

Here’s a table with some examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
00:00	ponoć	midnight
01:00	jedan sat	1:00 AM
12:00	podne	noon
15:00	tri sata poslijepodne	3:00 PM
23:00	jedanaest sati navečer	11:00 PM

The 12-Hour Clock

In casual conversation, Croatians might use the 12-hour clock, especially for social events. The structure is similar to English, where you specify AM or PM. Here’s how to express it:

• 1:00 AM – jedan sat ujutro

• 3:00 PM – tri sata popodne

• 9:00 PM – devet sati navečer

Here’s another table for these examples:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
1:00 AM	jedan sat ujutro	1:00 AM
3:00 PM	tri sata popodne	3:00 PM
9:00 PM	devet sati navečer	9:00 PM

Expressing Time in Different Ways

When telling time in Croatian, you have a few different structures to express it. Let’s go through them.

Full Hour

To express the exact hour, you can say “sati” (hours) after the number. For example:

• 2:00 – dva sata

• 5:00 – pet sati

Example table:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
2:00	dva sata	2:00
5:00	pet sati	5:00

Minutes Past the Hour

To express minutes past the hour, you say the hour followed by “i” (and) and then the number of minutes. For example:

• 2:15 – dva sata i petnaest minuta

• 3:30 – tri sata i trideset minuta

Example table:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
2:15	dva sata i petnaest minuta	2:15
3:30	tri sata i trideset minuta	3:30

Minutes to the Hour

To express minutes to the next hour, you say the number of minutes followed by “do” (to) and then the next hour. For example:

• 2:45 – petnaest minuta do tri

• 4:50 – deset minuta do pet

Example table:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
2:45	petnaest minuta do tri	2:45
4:50	deset minuta do pet	4:50

Asking for the Time

Now that you know how to tell time, let’s look at how to ask for it. The common phrase used is:

• “Koliko je sati?” (What time is it?)

You can also say:

• “Možeš li mi reći koliko je sati?” (Can you tell me what time it is?)

Here are examples of responses you might hear:

Croatian	Pronunciation	English
3:00	Tri sata.	It’s 3:00.
5:30	Pet sati i trideset minuta.	It’s 5:30.
12:15	Podne i petnaest minuta.	It’s 12:15.

Practice Scenarios

Now it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are ten exercises to test your understanding of telling time in Croatian.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct time in Croatian.

1. Koliko je sati? ___ (2:00)

2. ___ (1:15) je vrijeme za doručak.

3. Sastanak počinje u ___ (3:30).

Answers:

1. Dva sata

2. Jedan sat i petnaest minuta

3. Tri sata i trideset minuta

Exercise 2: Convert to 24-Hour Format

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

1. 10:00 AM

2. 7:00 PM

3. 12:00 PM

Answers:

1. 10:00

2. 19:00

3. 12:00

Exercise 3: Write in Full Sentences

Write full sentences in Croatian for the following times:

1. 4:45

2. 9:30

3. 10:15

Answers:

1. Četiri sata i četrdeset pet minuta.

2. Devet sati i trideset minuta.

3. Deset sati i petnaest minuta.

Exercise 4: Ask the Time

Practice asking for the time in Croatian. Write down your question and a possible answer.

1. Your question: "___"

2. Possible answer: "___"

Answers:

1. Koliko je sati?

2. Tri sata.

Exercise 5: Create Conversations

Create a short dialogue between two people discussing their plans based on time. Use at least three time expressions.

Example:

A: Koliko je sati?

B: Trenutno je pet sati.

A: Trebamo ići na sastanak u šest sati.

Exercise 6: Identify Mistakes

Look at these sentences and identify any mistakes in telling time.

1. Petnaest minuta do jedan sat. (Correct form: 12:45)

2. Dva sata i trideset minuta do tri. (Correct form: 2:30)

Answers:

1. Should be: Četrdeset pet minuta do jedan.

2. Should be: Dva sata i trideset minuta.

Exercise 7: Match the Time with the Description

Match the time on the left with its description on the right.

1. 11:00 AM a) Jedanaest sati

2. 2:30 PM b) Dva sata i trideset minuta

3. 5:45 PM c) Četrdeset pet minuta do šest

Answers:

1-a, 2-b, 3-c

Exercise 8: Translate the Following Times

Translate the following times into Croatian:

1. 8:00 AM

2. 6:15 PM

3. 12:30 PM

Answers:

1. Osam sati ujutro

2. Šest sati i petnaest minuta navečer

3. Podne i trideset minuta

Exercise 9: Create Your Own Questions

Write three questions you might ask when you want to know the time.

Example:

1. Koliko je sati?

2. Možeš li mi reći koliko je sati?

3. U koliko sati počinje film?

Exercise 10: Role Play

Role play with a partner. One person asks for the time, and the other responds using a complete sentence. Switch roles afterward.

Example:

A: Koliko je sati?

B: Sada je šest sati.

By practicing these exercises, you'll reinforce your understanding and confidence in telling time in Croatian.

In conclusion, telling time in Croatian is an important skill that will enhance your ability to communicate effectively. With the exercises provided, you will have ample opportunity to practice and improve your skills. Remember, the more you practice, the more comfortable you will become. Keep asking for the time, and soon it will become second nature!

Table of Contents - Croatian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Present Tense of Irregular Verbs

  ---

Daily Activities

• Common Activities
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives: Gender and Number
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Croatian Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance

Sources

• How to tell the time in Croatian
• Telling the time in Croatian | coLanguage

Other Lessons

• Geography
• Greetings and Introductions
• House
• Languages
• Phrasal Verbs and Collocations
• How to say Good Bye?
• Science and Technology
• Months of the Year
• Countries
• Weather

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Next Lesson — Present Tense of Regular Verbs ▶️