Language/Danish/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Danish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time

Welcome to our lesson on telling time in Danish! This is an essential skill that will not only help you navigate daily conversations but also immerse you in the rhythm of Danish life. Understanding how to express time is crucial for planning your day, making appointments, and participating in social interactions. In this lesson, we’ll explore various ways to tell time, including how to pronounce both the hours and minutes, as well as expressions related to different parts of the day.

Why Is Telling Time Important?

Telling time is a fundamental part of daily communication. Whether you're setting up a meeting, asking someone what time it is, or simply discussing your plans for the day, being able to express time accurately is vital. In Danish, just as in English, there are specific phrases and structures we use when talking about time, and mastering these will enhance your conversational skills significantly.

Lesson Structure

This lesson is structured as follows:

• Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time

• How to Ask for the Time

• Expressing Time in Danish

• Parts of the Day

• Practice Exercises

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time

Let’s start with the basic vocabulary you’ll need to tell time in Danish.

Danish	Pronunciation	English
en time	en ˈtiːmə	one hour
minut	miˈnyt	minute
sekund	sɪˈkʊn	second
klokke	ˈklɒkə	o'clock
morgen	ˈmɔːrn	morning
eftermiddag	ˈɛftərmiˌdæɡ	afternoon
aften	ˈɑfˀtn	evening
nat	næt	night
halv	hɛl	half
kvart	kvɑːt	quarter

These words will lay the groundwork for constructing more complex sentences about time.

How to Ask for the Time

In Danish, asking for the time is quite straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Hvad er klokken?	væð ɛr ˈklɔɡən?	What time is it?
Kan du fortælle mig, hvad klokken er?	kæn du fɔˈtɛl̩ məj væð ˈklɔɡən ɛr?	Can you tell me what time it is?

Feel free to use these phrases whenever you need to inquire about the time!

Expressing Time in Danish

Now, let’s delve into how to express time in Danish. The structure is quite similar to English, but there are some nuances to be aware of.

Telling the Hour

When telling the hour, you generally say the number followed by the word "klokken". For example:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Klokken et	ˈklɔɡən ɛt	One o'clock
Klokken to	ˈklɔɡən tʊ	Two o'clock
Klokken tre	ˈklɔɡən tʁæ	Three o'clock
Klokken fire	ˈklɔɡən fiːrə	Four o'clock
Klokken fem	ˈklɔɡən fɛm	Five o'clock
Klokken seks	ˈklɔɡən sɛks	Six o'clock
Klokken syv	ˈklɔɡən syːʊ	Seven o'clock
Klokken otte	ˈklɔɡən ˈoːdə	Eight o'clock
Klokken ni	ˈklɔɡən niː	Nine o'clock
Klokken ti	ˈklɔɡən tiː	Ten o'clock
Klokken elleve	ˈklɔɡən ˈɛlvə	Eleven o'clock
Klokken tolv	ˈklɔɡən tʊlv	Twelve o'clock

Telling Minutes

When expressing minutes, you simply add the number of minutes after the hour:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Klokken et og ti	ˈklɔɡən ɛt ɔ ti	One ten
Klokken to og femten	ˈklɔɡən tʊ ɔ ˈfɛm̩tən	Two fifteen
Klokken tre og halvt	ˈklɔɡən tʁæ ɔ ˈhɛlv	Three thirty
Klokken fire og fyrre	ˈklɔɡən fiːrə ɔ ˈfyːʁə	Four forty
Klokken fem og fem	ˈklɔɡən fɛm ɔ fɛm	Five fifty

Expressing Half and Quarter

In Danish, we also use "halv" (half) and "kvart" (quarter) to express time:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Klokken halv tre	ˈklɔɡən hɛlv tʁæ	Half past two
Klokken kvart over tre	ˈklɔɡən kvɑːt ˈoʊvər tʁæ	Quarter past three
Klokken kvart i fire	ˈklɔɡən kvɑːt i ˈfiːrə	Quarter to four

Parts of the Day

Understanding the different parts of the day will help you contextualize what time it is. Here are some expressions related to parts of the day:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Morgen	ˈmɔːrn	Morning
Formiddag	ˈfɔːrˌmiːdæɡ	Late morning
Eftermiddag	ˈɛftərmiˌdæɡ	Afternoon
Aften	ˈɑfˀtn	Evening
Nat	næt	Night

You can combine these expressions with the time to convey more detailed information, such as "Klokken seks om aftenen" (Six o'clock in the evening).

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are exercises designed to help you practice telling time in Danish.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Translate the following English sentences into Danish:

1. It is two o'clock.

2. It is half past four.

3. What time is it?

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. Klokken to.

2. Klokken halv fem.

3. Hvad er klokken?

Exercise 2: Matching Exercise

Match the Danish time expressions with their English translations.

Danish	English
Klokken tre	a) Five fifteen
Klokken halv seks	b) Three o'clock
Klokken kvart over fem	c) Half past six

Solutions for Exercise 2

• Klokken tre - b) Three o'clock

• Klokken halv seks - c) Half past six

• Klokken kvart over fem - a) Five fifteen

Exercise 3: True or False

Determine if the following statements are true or false:

1. "Klokken kvart i ni" means quarter past nine.

2. "Klokken ti" means ten o'clock.

3. "Hvad er klokken?" is how to ask for the time.

Solutions for Exercise 3

1. False

2. True

3. True

Exercise 4: Create a Dialogue

Write a short dialogue between two people discussing what time it is and their plans for the day.

Example Dialogue

A: Hvad er klokken?

B: Klokken halv tre.

A: Lad os mødes klokken fire.

B: Perfekt, vi ses da!

Exercise 5: Listening Exercise

Listen to a recording of someone telling the time in Danish. Write down what you hear.

Exercise 6: Write the Time

Convert the following times into Danish:

1. 3:30

2. 7:45

3. 12:15

Solutions for Exercise 6

1. Klokken halv fire

2. Klokken kvart over syv

3. Klokken kvart i tolv

Exercise 7: Role Play

Pair up with a classmate and take turns asking and answering what time it is.

Exercise 8: Group Discussion

Discuss the differences between telling time in English and Danish. What did you find easy or challenging?

Exercise 9: Time Conversion

Convert the following Danish times into English:

1. Klokken otte

2. Klokken ni og fyrre

3. Klokken kvart i seks

Solutions for Exercise 9

1. Eight o'clock

2. Nine forty

3. Quarter to six

Exercise 10: Reflection

Write a reflective paragraph about what you learned in this lesson and how you plan to use it in your daily life.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've now learned how to tell time in Danish. This skill will serve you well as you continue your language journey. Don’t forget to practice regularly, whether it’s checking the time or engaging in conversations with others. Remember, every hour counts!

Table of Contents - Danish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Danish Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Danish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Basics

  ---

Everyday Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Phrases

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers, Dates, and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days, Months, and Seasons
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Plurals and Possessives

  ---

Family, Relationships, and Occupations

• Family Members
• Relationships
• Occupations

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Forms and Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food, Drinks, and Dining

• Food and Drinks
• Dining Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Danish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Danish Customs and Etiquette

Sources

• Telling Time in Danish - Everything You Need to Know
• How To Tell The Time In Danish
• #1 Expert Guide To Dates And Time In Danish - Ling App

Other Lessons

• Clothes
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Colors
• Days, Months, and Seasons
• Animal
• Modes of Transportation
• At the Post Office
• Travel Vocabulary
• House and Home

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