Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on telling time in Finnish! In this lesson, we will explore how to express time in Finnish, including hours, minutes, and the use of AM and PM. Telling time is an essential skill that allows you to communicate effectively and navigate daily life in Finland. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently tell time and understand the Finnish expressions related to time. So, let's dive in and learn how to tell time in Finnish!

The Basics

Before we delve into the specifics of telling time, let's start by familiarizing ourselves with the basic vocabulary and numbers necessary for expressing time in Finnish.

Numbers 1-20

To begin, let's review the numbers from 1 to 20 in Finnish. Familiarizing yourself with these numbers will be crucial for understanding how to express time accurately.

Here are the numbers from 1 to 20 in Finnish:

Finnish	Pronunciation	English
yksi	[ˈyksi]	one
kaksi	[ˈkɑksi]	two
kolme	[ˈkolme]	three
neljä	[ˈneljæ]	four
viisi	[ˈviisi]	five
kuusi	[ˈkuusi]	six
seitsemän	[ˈseitseˈmæn]	seven
kahdeksan	[ˈkɑhdekˈsɑn]	eight
yhdeksän	[ˈyhdɛksˈæn]	nine
kymmenen	[ˈkymmˈɛnɛn]	ten
yksitoista	[ˈyksiˈtoɪstɑ]	eleven
kaksitoista	[ˈkɑksiˈtoɪstɑ]	twelve
kolmetoista	[ˈkolmeˈtoɪstɑ]	thirteen
neljätoista	[ˈneljæˈtoɪstɑ]	fourteen
viisitoista	[ˈviisiˈtoɪstɑ]	fifteen
kuusitoista	[ˈkuusiˈtoɪstɑ]	sixteen
seitsemäntoista	[ˈseitseˈmæntoɪstɑ]	seventeen
kahdeksantoista	[ˈkɑhdekˈsɑntoɪstɑ]	eighteen
yhdeksäntoista	[ˈyhdɛksˈæntoɪstɑ]	nineteen
kaksikymmentä	[ˈkɑksiˈkymmɛntæ]	twenty

Now that we have refreshed our memory with the numbers from 1 to 20, let's move on to the main focus of this lesson - telling time in Finnish!

Telling Time

In Finnish, the basic structure for telling time is straightforward. We first mention the hour, followed by the minutes. Let's break it down further.

Hours

To express the hour in Finnish, we use the numbers from 1 to 12. The word "tunti" is then added, which means "hour." For example:

• Kello on yksi. (It is one o'clock.)
• Kello on kuusi. (It is six o'clock.)

If the hour is a multiple of five, we use the word "tuntia" instead of "tunti." For example:

• Kello on kymmenen tuntia. (It is ten o'clock.)

Note that when expressing the hour, we use the 12-hour clock format in Finnish. If you want to specify that it is in the morning or afternoon, you can use the expressions "aamulla" (in the morning) or "iltapäivällä" (in the afternoon) after the hour. For example:

• Kello on kaksi aamulla. (It is two in the morning.)
• Kello on neljä iltapäivällä. (It is four in the afternoon.)

Minutes

After mentioning the hour, we move on to expressing the minutes. To do this, we use the numbers from 1 to 59. The word "minuutti" is then added, which means "minute."

When the minutes are between 1 and 9, we use the word "yli" (past) to indicate the minutes. For example:

• Kello on yli viisi. (It is past five o'clock.)

When the minutes are between 10 and 30, we use the word "yli" (past) before the number. For example:

• Kello on yli kymmenen. (It is past ten o'clock.)
• Kello on yli kahdenkymmenen. (It is past twenty o'clock.)

When the minutes are between 31 and 59, we use the word "vaille" (to) before the next hour. For example:

• Kello on vaille kuusi. (It is to six o'clock.)
• Kello on vaille kahdeksan. (It is to eight o'clock.)

It is important to note that when expressing the minutes, we use the numerals as cardinals, not as ordinals. For example, we say "viisi" (five) instead of "viides" (fifth) when expressing 5 minutes past the hour.

AM and PM

To indicate whether it is AM or PM, we use the expressions "aamupäivällä" (in the morning/AM) and "iltapäivällä" (in the afternoon/PM) after the hour. However, in colloquial Finnish, it is common to use the 24-hour clock format and omit the AM/PM indicator. For example:

• Kello on kaksi. (It is two o'clock.)
• Kello on neljätoista. (It is fourteen o'clock.)

Now that we have covered the basics of telling time in Finnish, let's move on to some practical examples to solidify our understanding.

Examples

To further grasp the concept of telling time in Finnish, let's work through some examples together.

Example 1

You want to say "It is five o'clock." in Finnish.

In Finnish, we say "Kello on viisi."

Example 2

You want to say "It is ten past three." in Finnish.

In Finnish, we say "Kello on yli kolme."

Example 3

You want to say "It is twenty-five to seven in the evening." in Finnish.

In Finnish, we say "Kello on vaille seitsemän illalla."

Example 4

You want to say "It is half past one in the morning." in Finnish.

In Finnish, we say "Kello on puoli kaksi aamulla."

Example 5

You want to say "It is eight forty-five in the afternoon." in Finnish.

In Finnish, we say "Kello on kahdeksan neljäkymmentäviisi iltapäivällä."

Now, let's move on to the cultural section to explore any regional variations and interesting facts related to telling time in Finnish culture.

Cultural Insight

In Finnish culture, punctuality is highly valued. Finns are known for their strong adherence to schedules and respect for other people's time. Being late is generally considered impolite and disrespectful. Therefore, it is essential to master the skill of telling time accurately to maintain good social etiquette in Finland.

Furthermore, it is interesting to note that in Finland, the 24-hour clock format is commonly used in official and formal contexts, such as transportation schedules and business meetings. However, in everyday conversations, especially among friends and family, the 12-hour clock format is more commonly used.

Another cultural aspect worth mentioning is the concept of "Finnish time." Finns are known for their efficiency and promptness, and it is common for meetings and events to start on time. Therefore, if you are invited to a Finnish gathering, make sure to arrive on time to avoid keeping others waiting.

Now that we have explored the cultural context of telling time in Finland, let's move on to some exercises to practice what we have learned.

Exercises

To reinforce your understanding of telling time in Finnish, let's practice some exercises together. Write your answers in the space provided.

Exercise 1

Translate the following times into Finnish:

1. 9:30 AM 2. 6:15 PM 3. 11:45 AM 4. 4:20 PM 5. 7:05 AM

Solution: 1. Kello on puoli kymmenen aamulla. 2. Kello on varttia yli kuusi illalla. 3. Kello on varttia vaille kaksitoista aamulla. 4. Kello on kaksikymmentä yli neljä iltapäivällä. 5. Kello on varttia yli seitsemän aamulla.

Exercise 2

Complete the following sentences with the appropriate time in Finnish:

1. Kello on _______ illalla. 2. Kello on _______ yöllä. 3. Kello on _______ iltapäivällä. 4. Kello on _______ aamulla. 5. Kello on _______ illalla.

Solution: 1. Kello on kahdeksan. 2. Kello on puoli kolme. 3. Kello on neljätoista. 4. Kello on kuusi. 5. Kello on kaksikymmentä.

Great job! You are making excellent progress in learning how to tell time in Finnish. Keep practicing and using these expressions in everyday conversations to reinforce your knowledge.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on telling time in Finnish. In this lesson, we explored the basics of expressing time in Finnish, including hours, minutes, and the use of AM and PM. We also discussed cultural insights related to punctuality and the importance of being on time in Finnish culture. Remember to practice telling time in different contexts and scenarios to further enhance your skills. Telling time is an essential skill that will greatly benefit you in everyday life and interactions in Finland. Keep up the great work, and soon you will be able to confidently tell time in Finnish!

Table of Contents - Finnish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Finnish

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Adjectives

• Noun Cases
• Adjective Agreement

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Leisure

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Forming Questions
• Negation

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Out

  ---

Prepositions and Postpositions

• Prepositions
• Postpositions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Finnish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Finnish Sauna

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons

  ---

Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses

• Conjunctions
• Subordinate Clauses

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Finnish Literature and Music

• Finnish Literature
• Finnish Music

Sources

• Telling Time in Finnish - Everything You Need to Know
• Telling the time in Finnish

Other Lessons

• Verbs in Finnish
• Clothes
• Weather
• Numbers
• Food and Beverage
• Verb Types
• Animals
• People in Finnish
• Hobbies and Leisure

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