Understanding the Basics of Telling Time in Catalan

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to grasp the foundational elements of telling time in Catalan. The structure is logical but has some distinct features compared to English or Spanish.

Key Vocabulary for Telling Time

• Hora</ – hour
• Minut</ – minute
• Quarts</ – quarters (used to express quarter past/to the hour)
• Mitja</ – half (used for half past)
• Matí</ – morning
• Tarda</ – afternoon/evening
• Nit</ – night
• En punt</ – on the dot/exactly

Basic Sentence Structure

The typical formula for telling time in Catalan is:

Són + [hour] + i + [minutes]

For example: Són les tres i vint (It is 3:20).

Note that “Són” (they are) is used when talking about multiple hours (plural), while “És” (it is) is used for 1 o’clock (singular):

• És la una – It is 1 o’clock
• Són les dues – It is 2 o’clock

Expressing Full Hours and Exact Time

Telling exact hours is straightforward in Catalan. Here’s how to express full hours:

• 1:00 – És la una en punt
• 2:00 – Són les dues en punt
• 3:00 – Són les tres en punt

Adding “en punt” emphasizes the exact hour, similar to “on the dot” in English. This is helpful in formal contexts or when punctuality is emphasized.

Minutes from 1 to 30

For minutes past the hour (from 1 to 30), Catalan uses “i” (and):

• 3:05 – Són les tres i cinc
• 4:15 – Són les quatre i quinze
• 5:25 – Són les cinc i vint-i-cinc

Note the use of “i” linking the hour and the minutes. Minutes from 1 to 30 are added after the hour.

Minutes from 31 to 59

For minutes past 30, Catalan typically expresses the time as minutes to the next hour using “menys” (minus):

• 6:40 – Són les set menys vint
• 8:50 – Són les nou menys deu
• 9:55 – Són les deu menys cinc

This structure is similar to English expressions like “twenty to seven.” You subtract the number of minutes from the next hour.

Using Quarters and Half Hours in Catalan Time

One of the most distinctive features of telling time in Catalan is the use of quarters and half hours, which differs slightly from English or Spanish expressions.

Quarters (Quarts)

In Catalan, quarters are expressed by dividing the hour into four parts of 15 minutes each. The term “quart” refers to a quarter past or before the hour. The expressions are:

• Quart de – quarter past
• Dues quarts de – half past (literally two quarters)
• Tres quarts de – quarter to

Examples:

• 3:15 – És un quart de quatre (It is a quarter of four, meaning quarter past three)
• 3:30 – Són dos quarts de quatre (It is two quarters of four, meaning half past three)
• 3:45 – Són tres quarts de quatre (It is three quarters of four, meaning quarter to four)

Notice that the hour mentioned after the quarters is always the upcoming hour, not the current hour.

Half Hours (Mitja)

While “mitja” means half, it is less commonly used in telling time compared to quarters but still understood:

• 3:30 – Són les tres i mitja (It is half past three)

Both “dos quarts de” and “les tres i mitja” can be used to express 3:30, with the former being more traditional in Catalan.

Expressing Time of Day and Contextual Usage

Adding context such as time of day helps clarify when the event occurs. Catalan has specific terms that correspond to different parts of the day:

• Matí – morning (typically 6 am to 12 pm)
• Tarda – afternoon (12 pm to 8 pm)
• Vespre – evening (around 6 pm to 9 pm)
• Nit – night (from 9 pm onwards)

Examples:

• És la una del matí – It is 1 in the morning
• Són les cinc de la tarda – It is 5 in the afternoon
• Són les nou del vespre – It is 9 in the evening
• Són les onze de la nit – It is 11 at night

Formal vs. Informal Time Telling

In formal contexts such as business or official schedules, the 24-hour clock is often used in Catalan, similar to many European languages. For example:

• 14:00 – Són les catorze hores (It is 14:00 hours / 2 pm)
• 20:30 – Són les vint i trenta (It is 20:30 / 8:30 pm)

In casual conversation, the 12-hour clock combined with contextual terms like matí or tarda is more common.

Common Phrases and Practice Examples

To solidify your understanding, here are some common phrases and examples you can practice:

• Quina hora és? – What time is it?
• És l’una – It’s one o’clock
• Són dos quarts de cinc – It’s 4:30 (half past four)
• Són tres quarts de set – It’s 6:45 (quarter to seven)
• Són les deu menys cinc – It’s 9:55 (five minutes to ten)
• La reunió és a les deu del matí – The meeting is at 10 in the morning

Using these phrases regularly will improve fluency and help you understand native speakers more easily.

Tips for Mastering Time Telling in Catalan

• Practice with Native Speakers: Engage in conversations through language exchange apps like Talkpal, which connect you with native Catalan speakers for real-time practice.
• Use Visual Aids: Clocks with Catalan time expressions or apps that display time in Catalan will help reinforce learning.
• Listen to Catalan Media: Watching Catalan TV shows, news, or listening to radio helps you hear how time is expressed naturally.
• Memorize Key Vocabulary: Focus on the essential words like hora, minut, quart, menys, en punt to build strong foundations.
• Practice Writing and Speaking: Regularly write out the time in Catalan and say it aloud to build confidence and fluency.

Conclusion

Mastering how to tell time in Catalan is a rewarding step toward fluency that enhances your ability to communicate effectively and understand daily conversations. From the straightforward use of hours and minutes to the culturally unique quarter-hour system, understanding these nuances will deepen your appreciation of the language. Remember, consistency and practice are key, and tools like Talkpal provide an excellent platform to practice speaking and listening with native speakers. By integrating these time-telling skills into your daily Catalan practice, you will be well-equipped to navigate any situation involving time, whether in social, academic, or professional contexts.