How to tell time in Slovak?

Key Vocabulary for Telling Time in Slovak

Numbers You Need to Know

Before you can tell time, it’s important to become familiar with the Slovak numbers from 1 to 24. Here are the basics:

• 1 – jedna
• 2 – dve
• 3 – tri
• 4 – štyri
• 5 – päť
• 6 – šesť
• 7 – sedem
• 8 – osem
• 9 – deväť
• 10 – desať
• 11 – jedenásť
• 12 – dvanásť
• 13 – trinásť
• 14 – štrnásť
• 15 – pätnásť
• 16 – šestnásť
• 17 – sedemnásť
• 18 – osemnásť
• 19 – devätnásť
• 20 – dvadsať
• 21 – dvadsaťjeden
• 22 – dvadsaťdva
• 23 – dvadsaťtri
• 24 – dvadsaťštyri

Essential Time Words

• Hodina (hour)
• Minúta (minute)
• Sekunda (second)
• Pol (half)
• Štvrť (quarter)
• Ráno (morning)
• Popoludnie (afternoon)
• Večer (evening)
• Noc (night)

How to Ask for the Time in Slovak

When you want to know the time in Slovak, simply ask:

Koľko je hodín? (What time is it?)

Another common way to ask is:

Máte čas? (Do you have the time?)

How to Tell the Time in Slovak

Full Hours

To state the time on the hour, use the number followed by the appropriate form of the word “hodina”. For example:

• It is one o’clock. – Je jedna hodina.
• It is two o’clock. – Sú dve hodiny.
• It is five o’clock. – Je päť hodín.

Note that after 1, the word for “hour” changes: hodina (1), hodiny (2-4), hodín (5 and above).

Minutes Past the Hour

To express minutes past the hour, say the hour first, then the minutes:

• It is 3:10. – Je tri hodiny desať minút.
• It is 5:25. – Je päť hodín dvadsaťpäť minút.

For exact times, the word “minút” (minutes) is often omitted in casual speech.

Half and Quarter Hours

Slovak uses a unique way to express half and quarter hours:

• It is half past two. – Je pol tretej. (literally: half of the third hour)
• It is quarter past four. – Je štvrť na päť. (literally: quarter to five)
• It is quarter to eight. – Je trištvrte na osem. (literally: three-quarters to eight)

24-Hour Clock vs. 12-Hour Clock

In Slovakia, both the 12-hour and 24-hour clock systems are used. The 24-hour system is more common in formal situations, transport timetables, and the media, while the 12-hour system is used in informal conversations. For example:

• 15:00 – pätnásť hodín (formal) or tri hodiny popoludní (three in the afternoon, informal)
• 21:30 – dvadsaťjeden tridsať (formal) or pol desiatej večer (half past nine in the evening, informal)

Common Phrases Related to Time

• What time do we meet? – Kedy sa stretneme?
• At 6 o’clock. – O šiestej.
• In the morning. – Ráno.
• In the evening. – Večer.
• Now. – Teraz.
• Later. – Neskôr.

Tips for Practicing Telling Time in Slovak

• Practice with a clock or watch, setting different times and saying them aloud in Slovak.
• Listen to Slovak speakers or media to get used to both the 12-hour and 24-hour formats.
• Engage in language exchange or use platforms like Talkpal to test your skills in real conversations.

Conclusion

Telling time in Slovak is a foundational skill that will make your communication smoother and more natural. With practice, the unique Slovak expressions for half and quarter hours will become second nature. Use the vocabulary and tips from this guide, and don’t forget to leverage Talkpal’s AI tools for more interactive learning. With dedication and the right resources, you’ll soon be telling time in Slovak with ease and confidence!