Language/Hungarian/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Hungarian → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Time → Telling Time

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of telling time in Hungarian. Knowing how to express time is essential for everyday conversations, scheduling appointments, and making plans. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently tell the time in Hungarian using the 24-hour clock and various other expressions.

We will begin by learning the basic vocabulary related to time, including the Hungarian words for hours, minutes, and seconds. Next, we will explore the different ways to express time, such as "half past" and "quarter to." We will also practice using the 24-hour clock, which is commonly used in Hungary.

Throughout the lesson, we will provide numerous examples and exercises to ensure that you fully understand the concepts and can apply them in real-life situations. Additionally, we will explore some interesting cultural insights related to timekeeping in Hungarian culture. So, let's dive in and learn how to tell time in Hungarian!

Basic Vocabulary

Before we start telling time, let's familiarize ourselves with some basic vocabulary related to time in Hungarian. Here are the essential words and phrases you need to know:

Hours

In Hungarian, the word for "hour" is "óra." Here are the numbers from 1 to 12, which will be used to express the hours:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English Translation
egy	[ɛɟ]	one
kettő	[kɛtːøː]	two
három	[haːrom]	three
négy	[neːɟ]	four
öt	[øt]	five
hat	[hɒt]	six
hét	[heːt]	seven
nyolc	[ɲolt͡s]	eight
kilenc	[kiːlɛnt͡s]	nine
tíz	[tiːz]	ten
tizenegy	[tizɛnɛɟ]	eleven
tizenkettő	[tizɛnkɛtːøː]	twelve

Minutes

To express minutes, we use the word "perc" in Hungarian. Here are the numbers from 1 to 59, which will be combined with "perc" to form the minutes:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English Translation
egy	[ɛɟ]	one
kettő	[kɛtːøː]	two
három	[haːrom]	three
négy	[neːɟ]	four
öt	[øt]	five
hat	[hɒt]	six
hét	[heːt]	seven
nyolc	[ɲolt͡s]	eight
kilenc	[kiːlɛnt͡s]	nine
tíz	[tiːz]	ten
tizenegy	[tizɛnɛɟ]	eleven
tizenkettő	[tizɛnkɛtːøː]	twelve
tizenhárom	[tizɛnhaːrom]	thirteen
tizennégy	[tizɛnneːɟ]	fourteen
tizenöt	[tizɛnøt]	fifteen
tizenhat	[tizɛnhɒt]	sixteen
tizenhét	[tizɛnheːt]	seventeen
tizennyolc	[tizɛɲolt͡s]	eighteen
tizenkilenc	[tizɛnkiːlɛnt͡s]	nineteen
húsz	[huːs]	twenty
huszonegy	[husonɛɟ]	twenty-one
harminc	[hɒrmin͡t͡s]	thirty
negyven	[nɛɟvɛn]	forty
ötven	[øtvɛn]	fifty

Seconds

In Hungarian, the word for "second" is "másodperc." However, when telling time, we usually focus on hours and minutes, so we won't go into detail about seconds in this lesson.

Telling Time using the 24-hour Clock

In Hungary, the 24-hour clock system is commonly used, especially for official and formal purposes. This system eliminates any ambiguity about whether it is morning or evening. Let's see how the 24-hour clock works in Hungarian:

Expressing Hours

To express the hours in the 24-hour clock, we simply state the number. For example:

• 13:00 - Tizenhárom óra (Thirteen hours)
• 18:30 - Tizennyolc óra harminc perc (Eighteen hours thirty minutes)

Expressing Minutes

To express minutes, we use the word "óra" (hour) or "perc" (minute), depending on the context. Here are a few examples:

• 15:10 - Tizenöt óra tíz perc (Fifteen hours ten minutes)
• 22:45 - Huszonkét óra negyvenöt perc (Twenty-two hours forty-five minutes)

Combining Hours and Minutes

To tell the time in Hungarian, we combine the expressions for hours and minutes. Here are a few examples:

• 14:20 - Tizenegy óra húsz perc (Fourteen hours twenty minutes)
• 19:55 - Tizenkilenc óra ötvenöt perc (Nineteen hours fifty-five minutes)

Practice Exercise 1

Now, let's practice telling time using the 24-hour clock. For each of the following times, try to express them in Hungarian:

1. 08:15 2. 11:30 3. 16:45 4. 20:05 5. 23:50

<details> <summary>Solution</summary>

1. Nyolc óra tizenöt perc (Eight hours fifteen minutes) 2. Tizenegy óra harminc perc (Eleven hours thirty minutes) 3. Tizenhat óra negyvenöt perc (Sixteen hours forty-five minutes) 4. Húsz óra öt perc (Twenty hours five minutes) 5. Huszonhárom óra ötven perc (Twenty-three hours fifty minutes)

</details>

Telling Time in Other Ways

While the 24-hour clock is commonly used in formal situations, Hungarians also use other expressions to tell time in everyday conversations. Let's explore some of these expressions:

"Óra" and "Perc"

In casual conversations, Hungarians often use the words "óra" and "perc" to explicitly mention "hour" and "minute." For example:

• 5:30 - Öt óra harminc perc (Five hours thirty minutes)
• 9:45 - Kilenc óra negyvenöt perc (Nine hours forty-five minutes)

"Negyed" and "Fél"

Hungarians commonly use the words "negyed" (quarter) and "fél" (half) to express time more precisely. Here are a few examples:

• 3:15 - Negyed négy (Quarter past three)
• 2:30 - Fél három (Half past two)

"Háromnegyed"

Another unique expression in Hungarian is "háromnegyed," which means "three-quarters." It is used to express time when it is close to the next hour. For example:

• 4:45 - Háromnegyed öt (Three-quarters to five)

Practice Exercise 2

Now, let's practice telling time using different expressions. For each of the following times, try to express them in Hungarian:

1. 1:15 2. 6:30 3. 8:45 4. 12:30 5. 10:50

<details> <summary>Solution</summary>

1. Negyed kettő (Quarter past one) 2. Fél hét (Half past six) 3. Háromnegyed kilenc (Three-quarters to nine) 4. Fél egy (Half past twelve) 5. Tíz óra ötven (Ten hours fifty)

</details>

Regional Variations

While the basic vocabulary and expressions for telling time are consistent throughout Hungary, there may be regional variations in the usage or understanding of certain expressions. For example, in some regions, people may use different words or phrases to express time, or they may have specific customs related to timekeeping.

Additionally, historical factors have influenced the way Hungarians perceive and express time. For example, during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary used a dual time system, where the official time was Vienna Time (Central European Time) in urban areas and Budapest Time (Eastern European Time) in rural areas. This dual system was abolished in 1892 when Hungary adopted Central European Time nationwide.

Cultural Insights

Hungarians have a strong sense of punctuality and value being on time for appointments and events. Arriving late without a valid reason is considered disrespectful. Therefore, it is important to not only learn how to tell time in Hungarian but also to practice punctuality when interacting with Hungarian speakers.

Additionally, Hungarians often use public transportation, such as buses, trams, and trains, to get around. Being able to read the timetables and understand the departure and arrival times is crucial for navigating the Hungarian transportation system. So, mastering the skill of telling time will greatly enhance your travel experience in Hungary.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to tell time in Hungarian. We covered the basic vocabulary related to time, including hours, minutes, and seconds. We explored the 24-hour clock system and various expressions used to tell time in everyday conversations. Additionally, we discussed regional variations and cultural insights related to timekeeping in Hungarian culture.

To reinforce your understanding, continue practicing and using the expressions in real-life situations. With time and practice, telling time in Hungarian will become natural to you. In the next lesson, we will continue building your vocabulary and language skills as we explore new topics. See you in the next lesson!

Table of Contents - Hungarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

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Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Personal Pronouns
• Present Tense Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

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Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negation

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time and Frequency

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Food and Dining

• Common Foods and Drinks
• Ordering at a Restaurant

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Prepositions and Location

• Common Prepositions
• Expressing Location

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

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Hungarian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Foods

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Possessive Pronouns and Plurals

• Possessive Pronouns
• Forming Plurals

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Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

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Hungarian History and Geography

• Important Historical Events
• Geography of Hungary

Sources

• Telling Time in Hungarian - Everything You Need to Know

Other Lessons

• Business and work
• Asking for directions
• Health
• Geography
• Travel and transportation
• Food and drink
• Count to 10
• Days of the Week
• Body
• Art and architecture

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