Language/Igbo/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
As a beginner in learning Igbo, it is important to understand how to tell time in Igbo. In this lesson, we will cover the basics of telling time in Igbo, including how to say the hours, minutes, and days of the week, and how to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
Before we dive into telling time in Igbo, let's look at some relevant vocabulary:
Basic Vocabulary
- In the morning - Mgbafor, mgbagbada
- In the afternoon - Ụnọ na-eje ochie
- In the evening - Ehihie, mgba-acha
Vocabulary for Days of the Week
- Monday - Mọnde
- Tuesday - Tiuzde
- Wednesday - Wenezde
- Thursday - Tọsde
- Friday - Fraịde
- Saturday - Saturnde
- Sunday - Sonde
Vocabulary for Time
- Hour - Abịa
- Minute - Aghụghụ
- Second - Okirikiri
- Midnight - Ututọ
Examples of Telling Time in Igbo
Let's practice some examples of telling time in Igbo:
| Igbo | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Aha abụọ | aha a-boo-o | One o'clock |
| Aha abụọ aghụghụ | aha a-boo-o a-ghu-ghu | One minute past one |
| Aha abụọ chere | aha a-boo-o che-re | Five past one |
| Aha abụọ na egbugharị | aha a-boo-o na eg-boo-ga-re-i | Quarter past one |
| Aha abụọ na nna eji | aha a-boo-o na nna e-ji | Half past one |
Time Expression
To express time in Igbo, you need to use the phrase "Aha" before the hour, followed by the minute (if applicable) and then the phrase "na nị" before the period of the day.
For example:
- Aha abụọ - One o'clock
- Aha abụọ aghụghụ - One minute past one
- Aha abụọ chere - Five past one
- Aha abụọ na egbugharị - Quarter past one
- Aha abụọ na nna eji - Half past one
If it is not the exact time, you can use the preposition "chere" (after) or "na egbugharị" (quarter past) before the hour.
Examples:
- Aha abụọ chere ejije (1:05 pm) - One past five in the evening
- Aha abụọ na egbugharị ejije (1:15 pm) - Quarter past one in the afternoon
If you want to say a specific minute and second, you can use the phrase "Aha" before the hour, followed by "Oji" before the minute and "na nị" before the period of the day:
Examples:
- Aha isi na oji aghụghụ na ojiji (2:01:02 am) - Two o'clock and one minute and two seconds in the morning
- Aha atọ n'ala na oji acho na okirikiri (6:30:59 pm) - Six o'clock and thirty minutes and fifty-nine seconds in the evening
Vocabulary Practice
Let's practice with some examples below:
- What time is it? - Nọọ gị aha gị?
- It is one o'clock - Aha abụọ bụla gi
- It is five past one - Aha abụọ chere bụla gi
- What time is it now? - Nọọ gị aha di?
- It is half past one - Aha abụọ na nna eji bụla gi a
- It is quarter to two - Aha di na nwaoru na ajọ afo (use "to" instead of "past" for minutes before the hour)
- When will you arrive? - Kedu maka ị bụla?
- I will arrive at two o'clock - A bụla na aha abụọ di na (insert the time you will arrive)
Cultural Tips
In Igbo culture, time is regarded as valuable and therefore punctuality is highly regarded. It is considered rude to keep someone waiting for a long time without prior warning.
Also, it is important to note that traditional Igbo timekeeping does not follow the twelve and twenty-four-hour clock system used in other parts of the world. Therefore, when communicating with native speakers, it is important to use the Igbo time system.
Conclusion
Telling time is an important aspect of Igbo language learning, and with practice, you will become proficient in it. In this lesson, we have learned the basic vocabulary for telling time, the time expression for phrases, and cultural tips for using these phrases in real-life situations. Congratulations on completing this lesson!
Other Lessons
- Eating and Drinking
- Days of the Week
- Colors
- Common Foods
- Geography
- Fruits
- Family
- Health
- Count to 10
- Introducing Yourself