Understanding the Basics: Numbers and Key Vocabulary
Numbers 1 to 12 in Macedonian
Before you can tell the time, you’ll need to know the numbers from 1 to 12, as these are most commonly used on clocks.
- 1 – еден (eden)
- 2 – два (dva)
- 3 – три (tri)
- 4 – четири (četiri)
- 5 – пет (pet)
- 6 – шест (šest)
- 7 – седум (sedum)
- 8 – осум (osum)
- 9 – девет (devet)
- 10 – десет (deset)
- 11 – единаесет (edinaeset)
- 12 – дванаесет (dvanaeset)
Essential Time Vocabulary
- час (čas) – hour
- минута (minuta) – minute
- половина (polovina) – half
- четвртина (četvrtina) – quarter
- пред (pred) – before
- по (po) – after/past
- утро (utro) – morning
- пладне (pladne) – noon
- попладне (popladne) – afternoon
- вечер (večer) – evening
- ноќ (noḱ) – night
How to Ask for the Time in Macedonian
To ask someone what time it is, use the following phrase:
Колку е часот? (Kolku e časot?) – What time is it?
This is the most common and polite way to inquire about the time.
How to Tell the Time in Macedonian
The Basic Structure
The structure for telling the time is straightforward. The general pattern is:
Часот е [number] и [minutes].
Example: Часот е два и петнаесет. (Časot e dva i petnaeset.) – It’s 2:15.
Telling the Hour Exactly
If it’s exactly on the hour, simply say:
Часот е [number].
Example: Часот е седум. (Časot e sedum.) – It’s 7 o’clock.
Half Past the Hour
To say “half past,” use the word половина:
Часот е половина [next hour].
Example: Часот е половина три. (Časot e polovina tri.) – It’s half past two (2:30).
Note: Macedonian refers to the next hour, so “половина три” literally means “half to three.”
Quarter Past and Quarter To
For “quarter past,” use и петнаесет or и четвртина:
Часот е [hour] и четвртина.
Example: Часот е четири и четвртина. (Časot e četiri i četvrtina.) – It’s a quarter past four (4:15).
For “quarter to,” use без четвртина (bez četvrtina):
Часот е без четвртина [next hour].
Example: Часот е без четвртина пет. (Časot e bez četvrtina pet.) – It’s a quarter to five (4:45).
Minutes Past and To
For minutes past the hour, use и (and):
Часот е [hour] и [minutes].
Example: Часот е три и десет. (Časot e tri i deset.) – It’s 3:10.
For minutes to the hour, use без (without/before):
Часот е без [minutes] [next hour].
Example: Часот е без пет шест. (Časot e bez pet šest.) – It’s five to six (5:55).
AM and PM in Macedonian
Macedonian typically uses the 24-hour clock in formal settings, but for everyday speech, context or time-of-day words are added:
- наутро (nautro) – in the morning
- попладне (popladne) – in the afternoon
- навечер (navečer) – in the evening
- ноќе (noḱe) – at night
Example: Часот е осум наутро. (Časot e osum nautro.) – It’s 8 in the morning.
Useful Phrases for Everyday Use
- Во колку часот почнува часот? (Vo kolku časot počnuva časot?) – What time does the class start?
- Кога се гледаме? (Koga se gledame?) – When are we meeting?
- Имам состанок во три. (Imam sostanok vo tri.) – I have a meeting at three.
Tips for Practicing Telling the Time in Macedonian
- Practice with a clock and say the time out loud in Macedonian throughout the day.
- Use language learning tools like Talkpal to reinforce your listening and speaking skills with interactive exercises.
- Watch Macedonian TV or listen to the radio to hear how native speakers refer to time in real contexts.
- Ask native speakers to quiz you or use time-related questions in conversation.
Conclusion
Learning how to tell the time in Macedonian is a practical and rewarding step on your language journey. With regular practice and the support of resources like Talkpal, you’ll soon feel comfortable using time expressions in daily conversations, planning events, and understanding timetables. Keep practicing, and soon telling the time in Macedonian will become second nature!
