Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Norwegian Bokmål → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Time → Telling Time

Introduction

In this lesson, we will learn how to tell time in Norwegian Bokmål using hours and minutes. Being able to tell time is an essential skill in any language, and it allows us to organize our daily activities and schedule appointments. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently express the time in Norwegian Bokmål and understand the time when it is spoken to you. So let's get started!

The Basics

Before we dive into telling time, let's review the numbers from 1 to 12 in Norwegian Bokmål. These numbers will be the foundation for expressing the hours on the clock.

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English
én	ayn	one
to	too	two
tre	tray	three
fire	feer-eh	four
fem	faym	five
seks	seks	six
syv	soov	seven
åtte	oht-teh	eight
ni	nee	nine
ti	tee	ten
elleve	ehl-leh-veh	eleven
tolv	tohlv	twelve

Telling the Hour

To express the time in Norwegian Bokmål, we generally use the 24-hour clock system. However, the 12-hour clock system is also commonly used in everyday conversations. Let's start by learning how to tell the hour using both systems.

The 24-Hour Clock System

In the 24-hour clock system, we simply state the hour followed by the word "timer" (hours). Here are a few examples:

• 3 o'clock: "klokken tre"
• 8 o'clock: "klokken åtte"
• 12 o'clock: "klokken tolv"

It's important to note that when the hour is between 0 and 9, we add a zero before the number. For example:

• 1 o'clock: "klokken 01"
• 9 o'clock: "klokken 09"

The 12-Hour Clock System

In the 12-hour clock system, we use the words "um" (in the morning), "formiddag" (in the morning), "ettermiddag" (in the afternoon), or "kveld" (in the evening) to indicate the time of day. Here are a few examples:

• 3 o'clock in the afternoon: "klokken tre om ettermiddagen"
• 8 o'clock in the morning: "klokken åtte om morgenen"
• 12 o'clock at night: "klokken tolv om natten"

In addition to using the time in words, it is also common to use numbers when telling the time in the 12-hour clock system. Here are a few examples:

• 3 o'clock in the afternoon: "klokken 3 på ettermiddagen"
• 8 o'clock in the morning: "klokken 8 om morgenen"
• 12 o'clock at night: "klokken 12 om natten"

Telling the Minutes

Now that we know how to express the hour, let's move on to telling the minutes. In Norwegian Bokmål, we use the word "over" (past) to indicate the minutes that have already passed, and the word "på" (to) to indicate the minutes that are yet to come. Let's look at a few examples:

• 10 minutes past 3: "ti over tre"
• 20 minutes to 4: "ti på fire"
• 15 minutes past 8: "kvart over åtte"
• 30 minutes to 9: "halv ni"
• 45 minutes past 12: "kvart på ett"

In addition to using these expressions, it is also common to use numbers when telling the minutes. For example:

• 25 minutes past 2: "fem og tyve over to"
• 35 minutes to 7: "fem og tretti på sju"

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to practice what we've learned! Try to translate the following times into Norwegian Bokmål:

1. 7:30 AM 2. 1:45 PM 3. 6:20 PM 4. 9:10 AM 5. 11:55 PM

__Solutions:__

1. 7:30 AM: "klokken halv åtte om morgenen" 2. 1:45 PM: "klokken kvart på to om ettermiddagen" 3. 6:20 PM: "klokken tjue over seks om kvelden" 4. 9:10 AM: "klokken ti over ni om morgenen" 5. 11:55 PM: "klokken fem på tolv om natten"

I hope you found these exercises helpful! Remember to practice telling time in Norwegian Bokmål as often as possible to improve your skills.

Cultural Insights

In Norwegian culture, punctuality is highly valued. Norwegians are known for their strict adherence to schedules and appointments. Being late is considered disrespectful and can leave a negative impression. Therefore, it's important to have a good grasp of telling time to ensure that you arrive on time for meetings, social gatherings, and other events.

Norway's proximity to the North Pole also influences the perception of time. In the summer months, the sun can stay above the horizon for 24 hours in certain regions of Norway, while in the winter, the days are shorter and darkness prevails. This unique natural phenomenon, known as the Midnight Sun and Polar Night, has a significant impact on how Norwegians experience time throughout the year.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to tell time in Norwegian Bokmål using hours and minutes. This is an important skill that will help you navigate daily life in Norway and communicate effectively with native speakers. Keep practicing and using these phrases in your conversations, and you'll soon become a master of telling time in Norwegian Bokmål.

Table of Contents - Norwegian Bokmål Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Norwegian Bokmål

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Definite Articles
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

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Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Interests

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

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Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating Conjunctions

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Questions and Negation

• Question Words
• Negation

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Expressing Emotions

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Norwegian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Etiquette and Social Norms

Other Lessons

• Education
• Idiomatic expressions and phrases
• Colors
• Parts of the Body
• Valentines Day
• How to say Good Bye?
• Useful Sentenses
• Health
• Eating Out

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