Learning a new language is always an exciting journey, and understanding how to tell time is a fundamental part of mastering any language. In Slovenian, two key terms you’ll need to get comfortable with are **”ura”** (hour) and **”minuta”** (minute). This article will provide a comprehensive look at these terms, their usage, and related vocabulary to help you navigate conversations about time in Slovenian.

Ura (Hour)

The word **”ura”** means “hour” in English. It’s a basic but essential term when discussing time.

Ura – hour
Koliko je ura?
How much is the hour? (What time is it?)

In addition to meaning “hour,” **”ura”** can also mean “clock” or “watch,” depending on the context.

Stenska ura – wall clock
Na steni visi stenska ura.
A wall clock hangs on the wall.

Ročna ura – wristwatch
Nosim svojo novo ročno uro.
I am wearing my new wristwatch.

Minuta (Minute)

The term **”minuta”** means “minute” in English. It’s crucial when you need to be precise about time.

Minuta – minute
Potrebujem samo eno minuto.
I need just one minute.

Just like in English, you can use **”minuta”** to refer to specific durations or moments in time.

Pet minut – five minutes
Avtobus bo prišel čez pet minut.
The bus will arrive in five minutes.

Combining Ura and Minuta

When telling time in Slovenian, you often need to combine **”ura”** and **”minuta”**. The structure is similar to English but with some unique twists.

Enajsta ura in trideset minut – 11:30
Srečanje je ob enajsti uri in trideset minut.
The meeting is at 11:30.

Pol ure – half an hour
Kosilo bo pripravljeno čez pol ure.
Lunch will be ready in half an hour.

Četrt ure – a quarter of an hour
Zamudil sem četrt ure.
I was late by a quarter of an hour.

Time Expressions

There are various time expressions in Slovenian that utilize both **”ura”** and **”minuta”**.

Ura in pol – an hour and a half
Film traja uro in pol.
The movie lasts an hour and a half.

Deset do poldneva – ten minutes to noon
Zbudil sem se ob deset do poldneva.
I woke up at ten minutes to noon.

Petnajst čez eno – fifteen past one
Sestanek se je začel petnajst čez eno.
The meeting started fifteen past one.

24-Hour Clock

Slovenian often uses the 24-hour clock, especially in formal contexts like timetables and official announcements.

Osemnajsta ura – 18:00 (6 PM)
Avtobus odpelje ob osemnajsti uri.
The bus leaves at 18:00.

Dvajset in pet minut – 20:05 (8:05 PM)
Film se začne ob dvajset in pet minut.
The movie starts at 20:05.

Common Phrases and Vocabulary

Here are some common phrases and vocabulary that involve **”ura”** and **”minuta”**.

Ob kateri uri – at what time
Ob kateri uri boš prišel?
At what time will you arrive?

Koliko minut – how many minutes
Koliko minut je še do konca?
How many minutes are left until the end?

Vsako uro – every hour
Autobus vozi vsako uro.
The bus runs every hour.

Na uro – per hour
Zaslužim deset evrov na uro.
I earn ten euros per hour.

V eni uri – in one hour
Pridem v eni uri.
I will arrive in one hour.

Pet minut prej – five minutes earlier
Prišel sem pet minut prej.
I arrived five minutes earlier.

Additional Time-Related Vocabulary

Here are some more time-related terms that you might find useful.

Sekunda – second
Imam samo nekaj sekund.
I have only a few seconds.

Dan – day
Danes je lep dan.
Today is a beautiful day.

Teden – week
Naslednji teden grem na počitnice.
Next week I am going on vacation.

Mesec – month
Ta mesec imam veliko dela.
I have a lot of work this month.

Leto – year
To leto je bilo zelo uspešno.
This year has been very successful.

Uro in minuto – hour and minute
Srečali se bomo ob določeni uri in minuti.
We will meet at a specific hour and minute.

Practice Makes Perfect

To master telling time in Slovenian, practice is essential. Here are some exercises to get you started:

1. Write down the current time in Slovenian.
2. Convert different times from a 12-hour clock to a 24-hour clock in Slovenian.
3. Use time expressions in sentences, both written and spoken.

Conclusion

Understanding how to use **”ura”** and **”minuta”** is crucial for effective communication in Slovenian. By familiarizing yourself with these terms and practicing their use, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the language. Whether you’re scheduling a meeting, catching a bus, or simply telling the time, these terms will undoubtedly become an integral part of your Slovenian vocabulary. Happy learning!