Language/Slovak/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
As a Slovak language teacher with 20 years of experience, I know how important it is to master time-telling vocabulary. In this lesson, I will teach you how to tell time in Slovak, using both the 12-hour and 24-hour clock.
The 12-Hour Clock
The 12-hour clock is used in both formal and informal settings. It consists of two parts: the hour and the minute. Slovak vocabulary related to the 12-hour clock includes the following:
| Slovak | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| jedna hodina | /'jɛdna 'hɔdɪna/ | one o'clock |
| pol druhej | /pɔl 'druxɛj/ | half past one |
| dve hodiny | /dvɛ 'hɔdɪnɪ/ | two o'clock |
| tri hodiny | /trɪ 'hɔdɪnɪ/ | three o'clock |
| štyri hodiny | /ʃtɪrɪ 'hɔdɪnɪ/ | four o'clock |
| päť hodín | /pætj 'hɔdɪŋ/ | five o'clock |
| šesť hodín | /'ʃɛʃc 'hɔdɪŋ/ | six o'clock |
| sedem hodín | /'sɛdɛm 'hɔdɪŋ/ | seven o'clock |
| osem hodín | /'ɔsɛm 'hɔdɪŋ/ | eight o'clock |
| deväť hodín | /dɛvætj 'hɔdɪŋ/ | nine o'clock |
| desať hodín | /'dɛsatj 'hɔdɪŋ/ | ten o'clock |
| jedenásť hodín | /'jɛdɛnaʃtj 'hɔdɪn/ | eleven o'clock |
| pol dvanástej | /pɔl 'dvanɑːstɛj/ | half past eleven |
Here are some additional phrases you may be interested in:
- ráno - in the morning
- popoludní - in the afternoon
- večer - in the evening
- polnoc - midnight
- poludnie - noon
The 24-Hour Clock
The 24-hour clock is more commonly used in formal settings, such as public transportation and schedules. Instead of using AM and PM, the numbers range from 0 to 23. For example, 1:00 PM would be 13:00 in the 24-hour clock. Here is some Slovak vocabulary related to the 24-hour clock:
| Slovak | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| jedna hodina | /'jɛdna 'hɔdɪna/ | 13:00 |
| dve hodiny | /dvɛ 'hɔdɪnɪ/ | 14:00 |
| štyri hodiny | /ʃtɪrɪ 'hɔdɪnɪ/ | 16:00 |
| dvadsať dve hodín | /'dvaɗsaːc 'dvɛ 'hɔdɪŋ/ | 22:00 |
| dvadsať štyri hodín | /'dvaɗsaːc ʃtɪrɪ 'hɔdɪŋ/ | 24:00 |
Additional Tips
Learning to tell time in Slovak can take some time, but with regular practice, you will master it. Here are a few additional tips to help you:
- Use a clock or watch with both 12-hour and 24-hour settings, and switch between the two to practice.
- Use flashcards or quizzes to test your knowledge.
- Look out for time-telling phrases in everyday life, such as "what time is it?" and "I'll meet you at seven."
- Listen to Slovak songs or watch Slovak movies to hear time-related vocabulary used in context.
With these tips and your newfound vocabulary knowledge, you will be able to confidently tell time in Slovak in no time.