Language/Marathi/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to tell time in Marathi. Time is an essential aspect of everyday life, and knowing how to ask and answer questions about the time is crucial for effective communication. In this lesson, we will cover how to ask for and give the current time, the difference between 12-hour and 24-hour formats, and some cultural tidbits related to time in Marathi culture. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently tell the time in Marathi.
Asking for Time
Before we can learn how to tell time, we need to know how to ask for it. Here are a few ways to ask for the time:
- काय वेळ आहे? (kāy vēḷ āhe?) - What time is it?
- आता किती वाजले आहेत? (ātā kitī vājle āhet?) - What time is it now?
- हीत वेळ काय झाली आहे? (hīt vēḷ kāy jhālī āhe?) - What was the time yesterday?
Notice that the first two questions are asking for the current time, while the last one is asking for the time in the past.
Telling Time
Marathi uses a mix of the 12-hour and 24-hour clock system to tell time. Let's start with the basics:
12-hour clock system
Marathi uses the words वाजव / वाजले (vājav / vājle) to indicate hours when telling time in the 12-hour clock system. The numbers are pronounced the same as in Hindi, and the equivalent numerals are written in Devanagari script. Here are some examples:
| Marathi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| दहा वाजले आहेत। | dahā vājle āhet. | It's ten o'clock. |
| बारा वाजले आहेत। | bārā vājle āhet. | It's twelve o'clock. |
| पंधरा वाजे झाले. | paṇḍharā vāje jhāle. | It's fifteen minutes past four. |
| दहा वाजता पून मिनिट बाकी आहेत. | dahā vājatā pūn minit bākī āhet. | It's ten minutes to two. |
Note: When telling the time, the word वाजे (vāje) is used for minutes.
24-hour clock system
In Marathi, the 24-hour clock system is used in formal settings, like schedules, timetables, and transportation. The 24-hour clock system is referred to as सैन्तिसिमिनिट (saintisiminut), which means the 24th minute.
To indicate hours when using the 24-hour clock system, Marathi uses the words तास / तांस (tās / tāṃs) instead of वाजव / वाजले (vājav / vājle). Here are some examples:
| Marathi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| सकाळी अकरा तासाच्या वेळी | sakālī akarā tāsācyā vēḷī | At half-past nine in the morning. |
| तुमच्या टिकटात अगत्या नाऊ तांसाच्या वेळी चलूच आहोत. | tumacyā ṭikaṭāt agatyā nāū tāṃsācyā vēḷī calūc āhot. | The train will leave at nine thirty-nine on your ticket. |
| तिने संध्याकाळी आठ तासाच्या वेळी जागा केली आहे. | tinē sandhyākālī āṭh tāsācyā vēḷī jāgā kēlī āhē. | She woke up at 8' o clock in the evening. |
As you can see, in the 24-hour clock system, times are pronounced using the hour followed by the word तास (tās) and the last two digits of the minutes.
Cultural Tidbits
In Marathi culture, timekeeping is a significant aspect of everyday life. Time is often measured differently in rural versus urban areas. In rural regions, time is usually determined by natural phenomena like sunrise, sunset, and the position of the sun. In contrast, urban areas follow a more standardized system of timekeeping using clocks and watches.
Additionally, it is essential to understand the context in which time is being communicated in Marathi. Marathi people tend to be more flexible with time schedules and punctuality, so it's not uncommon for meetings or social events to start late. However, in professional settings, such as meetings with clients or business partners, punctuality is crucial and arriving on time is expected.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we covered how to ask for and tell time in Marathi using the 12-hour and 24-hour clock system. We also discussed some cultural tidbits related to time in Marathi culture, such as the difference between timekeeping in rural and urban areas and the importance of punctuality in professional settings. With this knowledge, you can confidently communicate about the time and punctuality in Marathi-speaking regions.
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