Telling the time in Slovak

Once you have learned how to count and how to say numbers, it is time to read the clock! It differs from English, therefore, you need to pay attention  Let's get started!

Hours, minutes and seconds in Slovak

First of all, start with the basic vocabulary:

Great! In Slovak language, there are different forms of these words, when connecting them with numbers. Here is the explanation:

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Examples:

• jedna sekunda = 1 second
• štyri hodiny = 4 hours
• osemnásť minút = 18 minutes

Expressions about the time in Slovak

When telling the time in Slovak, you will for sure need these:

Note that "It is....o'clock" varies:

"Half Hour" in Slovak

Expressing halves is different from English. While saying 10:30 in English is "half past 10", in Slovak we could translate it to "half to 11" or "half of eleventh hour".

When expressing half hour we always use "je" and never "sú".

Example:

• Good: Je pol šiestej. (It is half pas five)
• Bad: Sú po šiestej.

"Quarters" and minutes in Slovak

We, in Slovakia, again, use "quarter to" and "quarter past" differently than in English. While in English 11:15 would be "quarter past 11", in Slovakia we read it as "quarter on 12". 11:45 in English is "quarter to 12", while in Slovakia it could be translated as "three quarters on 12". Sounds strange, but with practice, you will not even notice!

"Quarter past"

"Quarter to"

Minutes

Here we go! You already know how to say full hours, halves and quarters. What about "5 minutes to" and "10 minutes to", as well as, "5 minutes past" and "10 minutes past"?

Examples:

• 5 minutes to 10 = O päť (5) minút desať (10)
• 10 minutes to 8 = O desať(10) minút osem (8)
• 5 minutes past 10 = Desať (10) hodín a päť (5) minút
• 10 minutes past 8 = Osem (8) hodín a desať (10) minút

"5/10 minutes to X" is equivalent to "o 5/10 minút X" which means "in 5/10 minutes X"

"5/10 minutes past X" is equivalent to "X a 5/10 minút" which means "X and 5/10 minutes"

Digital time in Slovak

This is the simplest form. You read what you see.

For example:

• 07:56=  Je sedem hodín a päťdesiatšesť minút.
  • or simply sedem päťdesiatšesť
• 02:04= Sú dve hodiny a štyri minúty.
  • ​or simply dve nula štyri
• 03:35= Sú tri hodiny a tridsaťpäť minút.
  • ​or simply tri tridsaťpäť

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

When talking about when something is going to happen or happened, we use "o". (At five. = O piatej.)

Example dialog

Hana: Čau! Kedy prídeš? (Hi! When you will come?)

Barbora: Ahoj! Prídem dnes o pol deviatej. (Hello! I will come today at half past eight.)

Hana: Ráno alebo večer? (In the morning or in the evening?)

Barbora: Ráno. (In the morning.)

Hana: Super! Ja prídem neskôr. Okolo deviatej. (Super! I will come later. Around nine.)

Barbora: Ok, vidíme sa! (Ok, see you!)

Now you are ready to practice! Check the 3 exercises prepared for you!