Gaining proficiency in any language begins with mastering the basics, and telling time is one such foundational skill. In this guide, we’ll explore how to express time in Afrikaans, including both formal and informal ways. Additionally, we’ll touch upon any regional variations that may be relevant. So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Express Time
When it comes to formal usage, Afrikaans follows a standard format to convey time. Here are some essential phrases to help you express time formally in Afrikaans:
1. Hoe laat is dit? – What time is it? 2. Dit is een uur. – It is one o’clock. 3. Dit is half een / halfeen. – It is half past one. 4. Dit is kwart oor een. – It is a quarter past one. 5. Dit is kwart voor twee. – It is a quarter to two. 6. Dit is tien voor half een. – It is ten minutes to half past one.
Note that in formal settings, it is common to use “uur” (hour) or “ure” (hours) after the numeral to specify the hour.
Informal Ways to Express Time
Informally, Afrikaans speakers often use a more relaxed and concise way of expressing time. Here are some useful phrases for informal situations:
1. Hoe laat is dit? – What time is it? 2. Dis een uur. – It’s one o’clock. 3. Dis half een. – It’s half past one. 4. Dis kwart oor een. – It’s a quarter past one. 5. Dis kwart voor twee. – It’s a quarter to two. 6. Dis tien voor half een. – It’s ten minutes to half past one.
As you can see, the informal expressions are less elaborate and omit the words “Dit is” (It is) for simplicity and brevity.
Additional Tips and Examples
Now that we’ve covered the basic ways to express time in Afrikaans, let’s delve into some additional tips and examples to reinforce your understanding:
Vocabulary for Time-related Terms
Here are some crucial Afrikaans vocabulary words related to time:
- uur – hour
- minute – minutes
- sekonde – seconds
- dag – day
- week – week
- maand – month
- jaar – year
- nag – night
- oggend – morning
- middag – afternoon
- aand – evening
Telling Exact Time
To specify the exact time in Afrikaans, include the minutes after stating the hour:
Formal: Dit is drie uur en tien minute. (It is three hours and ten minutes.) Informal: Dis drie en tien. (It’s three and ten.)
Using “Half” to Indicate Half Past the Hour
“Half” in Afrikaans is used to denote half past the hour, and it always comes before the next hour:
Formal: Dit is half twee. (It is half past one.) Informal: Dis half twee. (It’s half past one.)
Using “Kwart” for Quarter Hours
The word “kwart” (quarter) is employed to express quarter hours:
Formal: Dit is kwart voor drie. (It is a quarter to two.) Informal: Dis kwart voor drie. (It’s a quarter to two.)
Remember, the word before “kwart voor” indicates the following hour.
Talking About Minutes Before or After the Hour
To communicate minutes before or after the hour, Afrikaans employs the phrase “voor” (to) for minutes before and “oort” (past) for minutes after:
Formal: Dit is tien voor drie. (It is ten minutes to two.) Informal: Dis tien voor drie. (It’s ten minutes to two.)
Regional Variations
Afrikaans is primarily spoken in South Africa and Namibia, and there are no significant regional variations regarding how to express time. The formal and informal ways remain consistent across these regions.
Congratulations! You now possess a thorough understanding of how to say time in Afrikaans. Practice these phrases regularly to improve your fluency and confidence. Happy learning!
