Essential Azerbaijani Vocabulary for Telling Time
Before diving into the mechanics of telling time, it is helpful to familiarize yourself with the core Azerbaijani words related to hours, minutes, and parts of the day.
- Saat – Hour / Clock
- Dəqiqə – Minute
- Saniyə – Second
- Səhər – Morning
- Günorta – Noon
- Axşam – Evening
- Gecə – Night
How to Ask the Time in Azerbaijani
The most common way to ask the time in Azerbaijani is:
- Saat neçədir? – What time is it?
You can also use variations like:
- İndi saat neçədir? – What time is it now?
Stating the Hour: Full and Half Hours
To answer the question, you typically start with the word saat followed by the number indicating the hour.
- Saat birdir. – It is one o’clock.
- Saat dörddür. – It is four o’clock.
For half past the hour, Azerbaijani uses the word yarım (half):
- Saat üç yarımdır. – It is half past three (3:30).
Telling Time to the Minute
When specifying the exact time with minutes, the structure is:
- Saat [hour] [minute] -dir.
For example:
- Saat beş iyirmi-dir. – It is 5:20.
- Saat on bir qırx beş-dir. – It is 11:45.
Expressing “Quarter Past” and “Quarter To”
To say “quarter past,” use çeyrek keçib and for “quarter to,” use çeyrek qalıb:
- Saat altını çeyrek keçib. – It’s quarter past six (6:15).
- Saat yettiyə çeyrek qalıb. – It’s quarter to seven (6:45).
Morning, Afternoon, and Evening: Indicating AM and PM
Azerbaijani does not use “AM” and “PM” but instead refers to parts of the day for clarity. For example:
- Səhər saat doqquzdur. – It’s nine o’clock in the morning.
- Axşam saat səkkizdir. – It’s eight o’clock in the evening.
Useful Phrases About Time in Azerbaijani
- Tezdir – It’s early.
- Gecdir – It’s late.
- Neçə saatdır? – How many hours?
- Neçə dəqiqədir? – How many minutes?
Tips for Practicing Time in Azerbaijani
Practice makes perfect, especially when learning to tell time. Here are some practical tips to enhance your learning:
- Listen to Azerbaijani radio or watch TV shows to hear how locals refer to time in various contexts.
- Practice with a language partner or use language learning apps like Talkpal to reinforce your skills in real conversations.
- Try writing your daily schedule in Azerbaijani, including times for each activity, to familiarize yourself with the structure.
Conclusion
Mastering how to tell time in Azerbaijani is an essential step in your language learning journey. With regular practice, exposure, and the right resources, you’ll soon be able to confidently ask for and tell the time in any situation. Use this guide from Talkpal to practice and enhance your Azerbaijani skills, and soon, telling time will become second nature.
