Language/Irish/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
| ◀️ Numbers 1-20 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Question Words ▶️ |
Welcome to your lesson on telling time in Irish! This topic is not just crucial for everyday conversation; it plays a significant role in how we structure our days and communicate with others. Knowing how to express time allows you to participate more fully in social settings, plan activities, and understand schedules.
In this lesson, we will cover the vocabulary and phrases you need to tell the time in Irish, including how to express hours, minutes, and different periods of the day. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped with the skills to confidently discuss time in various contexts.
We will start with some key vocabulary, then move on to constructing sentences, and finally, we’ll practice with some exercises to solidify your learning.
Key Vocabulary
Before we dive into telling the time, let’s familiarize ourselves with some essential vocabulary related to time.
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| a haon | ah hen | one |
| a dó | ah doh | two |
| a trí | ah tree | three |
| a ceathair | ah kah-hir | four |
| a cúig | ah koo-ig | five |
| a sé | ah shay | six |
| a seacht | ah shokht | seven |
| a hocht | ah hohkt | eight |
| a naoi | ah nee | nine |
| a deich | ah deh | ten |
| a haon déag | ah hen dayg | eleven |
| a dó dhéag | ah doh yayg | twelve |
| a trí déag | ah tree dayg | thirteen |
| a ceathair déag | ah kah-hir dayg | fourteen |
| a cúig déag | ah koo-ig dayg | fifteen |
| a sé déag | ah shay dayg | sixteen |
| a seacht déag | ah shokht dayg | seventeen |
| a hocht déag | ah hohkt dayg | eighteen |
| a naoi déag | ah nee dayg | nineteen |
| fiche | fee-khuh | twenty |
Now that we have some numbers down, let’s learn how to express the concept of time itself.
Telling Time in Irish
In Irish, telling time is quite straightforward once you get the hang of it. Here’s how we generally structure the phrases for telling time:
1. The hour is stated first.
2. “Go” is used to indicate "past."
3. Minutes follow after the hour.
4. “Tar éis” is used to indicate "after."
5. “Roimh” is used to indicate "to" when we are approaching the next hour.
6. Periods of the day can be added for clarity.
Let’s see some examples:
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tá sé a haon | taw shay ah hen | it is one o'clock |
| tá sé a dó | taw shay ah doh | it is two o'clock |
| tá sé a trí | taw shay ah tree | it is three o'clock |
| tá sé a ceathair | taw shay ah kah-hir | it is four o'clock |
| tá sé a cúig | taw shay ah koo-ig | it is five o'clock |
| tá sé a sé | taw shay ah shay | it is six o'clock |
| tá sé a seacht | taw shay ah shokht | it is seven o'clock |
| tá sé a hocht | taw shay ah hohkt | it is eight o'clock |
| tá sé a naoi | taw shay ah nee | it is nine o'clock |
| tá sé a deich | taw shay ah deh | it is ten o'clock |
Now, let’s add some minutes to our time expressions.
== Expressing Minutes
When adding minutes, you will use the word "mínit" (minute) along with the number of minutes.
Here are some examples:
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tá sé a haon agus cúig nóiméad | taw shay ah hen agus koo-ig noh-mayd | it is one o'clock and five minutes |
| tá sé a dó agus deich nóiméad | taw shay ah doh agus deh noh-mayd | it is two o'clock and ten minutes |
| tá sé a trí agus fiche nóiméad | taw shay ah tree agus fee-khuh noh-mayd | it is three o'clock and twenty minutes |
| tá sé a ceathair tar éis cúig nóiméad | taw shay ah kah-hir tar ays koo-ig noh-mayd | it is four o'clock after five minutes |
| tá sé a cúig roimh deich nóiméad | taw shay ah koo-ig roim deh noh-mayd | it is five o'clock to ten minutes |
== Periods of the Day
To make your expressions more specific, you can refer to periods of the day. Here are some common terms:
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| maidin | ma-ih-din | morning |
| lae | lee | day |
| tráthnóna | trawn-oh-nah | afternoon |
| oíche | ee-kah | evening |
Using these terms, we can clarify the time even more:
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tá sé a haon na maidine | taw shay ah hen nah ma-ih-din | it is one o'clock in the morning |
| tá sé a dó na tráthnóna | taw shay ah doh nah trawn-oh-nah | it is two o'clock in the afternoon |
| tá sé a trí na hoíche | taw shay ah tree nah ee-kah | it is three o'clock in the evening |
Practice Exercises
Now that you have learned how to tell the time in Irish, it’s time to practice! Here are some exercises to help you apply what you’ve learned.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Translate the following sentences into Irish:
1. It is four o'clock.
2. It is seven o'clock and ten minutes.
3. It is one o'clock in the morning.
4. It is five o'clock to two minutes.
5. It is three o'clock in the afternoon.
Answers:
1. tá sé a ceathair.
2. tá sé a seacht agus deich nóiméad.
3. tá sé a haon na maidine.
4. tá sé a cúig roimh dó nóiméad.
5. tá sé a trí na tráthnóna.
Exercise 2: Match the Time
Match the Irish phrases with their English translations:
1. tá sé a haon
2. tá sé a dó tar éis cúig nóiméad
3. tá sé a trí na hoíche
4. tá sé a sé roimh fiche nóiméad
a. it is one o'clock
b. it is two o'clock after five minutes
c. it is three o'clock in the evening
d. it is six o'clock to twenty minutes
Answers:
1 → a
2 → b
3 → c
4 → d
Exercise 3: Listening Comprehension
Listen to the following times in Irish and write them down in English.
1. tá sé a hocht na maidine
2. tá sé a cúig na tráthnóna
3. tá sé a naoi roimh deich nóiméad
Answers:
1. it is eight o'clock in the morning
2. it is five o'clock in the afternoon
3. it is nine o'clock to ten minutes
Exercise 4: Create Sentences
Create your own sentences telling the time. Use at least three different periods of the day.
Example Answers:
1. tá sé a haon na maidine - it is one o'clock in the morning.
2. tá sé a dó na tráthnóna - it is two o'clock in the afternoon.
3. tá sé a sé na hoíche - it is six o'clock in the evening.
Exercise 5: Time Conversion
Convert the following English time expressions to Irish:
1. It is three o'clock and fifteen minutes.
2. It is six o'clock in the evening.
3. It is four o'clock to five minutes.
Answers:
1. tá sé a trí agus cúig néiméad.
2. tá sé a sé na hoíche.
3. tá sé a ceathair roimh cúig nóiméad.
Exercise 6: Ask the Time
Practice asking for the time in Irish. Write down a dialogue between two people.
Example:
Person A: An bhfuil a fhios agat cén t-am é?
Person B: Tá sé a dó.
Exercise 7: Time Table
Create a simple timetable using the vocabulary you have learned. Include at least five different times throughout the day.
Example:
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Brunch | tá sé a haon na maidine |
| Work | tá sé a dó na tráthnóna |
| Gym | tá sé a trí na hoíche |
| Dinner | tá sé a sé na hoíche |
| Bedtime | tá sé a deich na hoíche |
Exercise 8: Role Play
In pairs, role-play a scenario where one person asks for the time and the other responds. Use different times and periods of the day.
Example:
Person A: An bhfuil a fhios agat cén t-am é?
Person B: Tá sé a ceathair na maidine.
Exercise 9: Time Quiz
Create a quiz with multiple-choice questions based on telling time in Irish.
Example:
What is "it is two o'clock" in Irish?
a) tá sé a haon
b) tá sé a dó
c) tá sé a trí
Answer: b) tá sé a dó
Exercise 10: Reflection
Reflect on what you have learned in this lesson. Write a few sentences about how you can use telling time in your daily life.
Example Answer:
I will use telling time to plan my day, manage my schedule, and communicate with friends. Knowing how to express time in Irish will help me feel more comfortable in conversations.
Congratulations on completing this lesson on telling time in Irish! Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you use these phrases, the more natural they will become. Keep incorporating them into your conversations and daily routines, and you'll see your confidence grow.
Sources
- Telling Time for Kids in Irish Gaelic (Adults Too!)
- Telling Time In Irish: #1 Amazing Fact & Vocabulary List - Ling App
- Telling time in Irish | Irish Language Blog
Other Lessons
- Numbers
- Weather and Climate
- Drinks and Beverages
- How to say Good Bye?
- Seasons and Months
- Family members
- Fruits
- Feelings and Emotions
- Relationships
| ◀️ Numbers 1-20 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Question Words ▶️ |