Understanding the Basics: Numbers and Time Units
Key Numbers for Telling Time
Before you can confidently tell the time in Indonesian, it’s important to review the numbers from 1 to 12, as these are essential for hours. Here are the most important numbers:
- 1 – satu
- 2 – dua
- 3 – tiga
- 4 – empat
- 5 – lima
- 6 – enam
- 7 – tujuh
- 8 – delapan
- 9 – sembilan
- 10 – sepuluh
- 11 – sebelas
- 12 – dua belas
Essential Time Vocabulary
- Jam – hour / o’clock
- Menit – minute
- Detik – second
- Pagi – morning (roughly 4:00 to 11:00)
- Siang – midday (11:00 to 15:00)
- Sore – afternoon (15:00 to 18:00)
- Malam – evening/night (18:00 to midnight)
How to Ask and Tell the Time in Indonesian
Asking for the Time
To ask what time it is, you can say:
- Jam berapa sekarang? – What time is it now?
- Pukul berapa? – What time? (a bit more formal, but common)
Stating the Time
To state the time, begin with jam followed by the hour and then the minutes if necessary. Here are some examples:
- Jam dua – Two o’clock
- Jam lima lewat sepuluh – Ten minutes past five (literally: five o’clock past ten)
- Jam tujuh tiga puluh – Seven thirty (7:30)
Notice that in Indonesian, the structure typically follows this pattern: jam + [hour] (+ lewat [minutes]).
Common Expressions for Minutes and Intervals
Expressing “Past” and “To”
- Lewat – past (e.g., jam empat lewat lima = five past four)
- Kurang – to (e.g., jam tiga kurang sepuluh = ten to three)
For example:
- Jam enam lewat dua puluh – Twenty past six (6:20)
- Jam sembilan kurang lima – Five to nine (8:55)
Half Past and Quarter
- Setengah – half (used differently than in English: setengah tujuh = half to seven, or 6:30)
- Seperempat – a quarter (seperempat delapan = a quarter past eight, 8:15)
Examples:
- Setengah enam – 5:30 (literally: half to six)
- Seperempat sembilan – 8:15
Describing Time of Day
To specify the time of day, simply add the appropriate period after the hour:
- Pagi – morning (jam tujuh pagi = 7 AM)
- Siang – midday/early afternoon (jam dua belas siang = 12 PM/noon)
- Sore – late afternoon (jam lima sore = 5 PM)
- Malam – evening/night (jam delapan malam = 8 PM)
Useful Tips for Mastering Indonesian Time Expressions
- Practice saying the time aloud with a native speaker or a language learning tool like Talkpal to improve your fluency and listening skills.
- Remember that “setengah” refers to the half hour before the next hour, not after the current hour as in English.
- When in doubt, use the 24-hour format, which is widely understood in Indonesia, especially for official schedules and timetables.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to internalize these patterns is by practicing them in real-world scenarios. Try asking and answering questions about the time with friends, tutors, or through language learning apps like Talkpal. Listening to Indonesian radio or watching Indonesian television can also help you get used to how time is discussed in everyday life.
Conclusion
Mastering how to tell the time in Indonesian is a practical step toward fluency. With the tips, vocabulary, and explanations above, you’re well-equipped to handle any time-related conversation. Keep practicing, use resources like Talkpal for interactive learning, and soon you’ll find that telling the time in Indonesian becomes second nature. Selamat belajar (happy learning)!
