Language/Kannada/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Kannada → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time

Welcome to our lesson on "Telling Time" in Kannada! Understanding how to tell time is an essential skill for everyday communication. Whether you're planning a meeting, catching a bus, or simply asking your friend what time it is, being able to express time accurately will greatly enhance your conversational abilities in Kannada.

In this lesson, we’ll cover:

• Basic vocabulary related to time

• How to ask for the time

• How to answer questions about the time

• Common phrases related to time

We will also provide practice exercises to help you apply what you've learned. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Basic Vocabulary

Let's start by learning some fundamental Kannada words related to time.

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ಗಂಟೆ	gaṇṭe	hour
ನಿಮಿಷ	nimiṣa	minute
ಸೆಕೆಂಡು	sekeṇḍu	second
ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ	beḷagge	morning
ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ	madhyāhna	afternoon
ರಾತ್ರಿ	rātri	night
ಇಂದು	indu	today
ನಿನ್ನೆ	ninne	yesterday
ನಾಳೆ	nāḷe	tomorrow
ಕ್ಕೆ	kke	at (used for time)
ಬಿಸಿ	bisi	sharp (used to indicate exact time)
ತಡ	taḍa	late
ಮುಂಚೆ	munche	early
ಸಮಯ	samaya	time
ಸಮಯ ಏನು?	samaya ēnu?	What time is it?
ಸಮಯ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತೆ	samaya tiḷiyutte	I understand the time
ಮನೆಯ ಸಮಯ	maneya samaya	home time
ಕೆಲಸ ಸಮಯ	kelasa samaya	work time
ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಸಮಯ	hārdika samaya	personal time
ವೃತ್ತಿ ಸಮಯ	vṛtti samaya	professional time
ಅಪಾಯ ಸಮಯ	apāya samaya	danger time

Now that we've established some basic vocabulary, let's move on to how to ask for the time in Kannada.

Asking for the Time

To ask for the time in Kannada, you can use the phrase "ಸಮಯ ಏನು?" (samaya ēnu?) which translates to "What time is it?"

Here are some examples of how this would work in conversation:

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ಸಮಯ ಏನು?	samaya ēnu?	What time is it?
ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಸಮಯ ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತೀರಾ?	dayaviṭṭu samaya tiḷisuttīrā?	Could you please tell me the time?
ನಾನು ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಕೇಳಬಹುದು?	nānu samayavannu kēḷabahudu?	Can I ask for the time?

Answering the Time

When someone asks you what time it is, you can respond using the structure "[number] ಗಂಟೆ [minute] ನಿಮಿಷ". Here are some examples:

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆ	ēḷu gaṇṭe	7 o'clock
ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆ ಐದು ನಿಮಿಷ	ēḷu gaṇṭe aidu nimiṣa	7:05
ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನೈದು ನಿಮಿಷ	hattu gaṇṭe hadināidu nimiṣa	10:15
ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ	mūru gaṇṭe	3 o'clock
ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ ಮೂವರು ನಿಮಿಷ	mūru gaṇṭe mūvaru nimiṣa	3:03
ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ ಹತ್ತೊಂಭತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ	aidu gaṇṭe hattombhattu nimiṣa	5:18
ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ಗಂಟೆ ಹೂರಹತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ	hanneraḍu gaṇṭe hūrahattu nimiṣa	12:30
ನಾಲ್ಕು ಗಂಟೆ	nālku gaṇṭe	4 o'clock
ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ	hattu gaṇṭe	10 o'clock
ಒಂದೇ ಗಂಟೆ	ondē gaṇṭe	1 o'clock

You’ll notice that when we mention minutes, we often refer to them after the hour.

Common Time-Related Phrases

Here are some common phrases related to time that you might find useful:

Kannada	Pronunciation	English
ನಾಳೆ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ	nāḷe beḷagge	Tomorrow morning
ಇಂದು ರಾತ್ರಿ	indu rātri	Tonight
ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ	madhyāhna mūru gaṇṭe	3 PM
ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಏಳೂ ಗಂಟೆ	beḷagge ēḷū gaṇṭe	7 AM
ತಡವಾಗಿ	taḍavāgi	Late
ಮುಂಚೆ	munche	Early
ಸಮಯ ಬದಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ	samaya badalāguttade	Time changes
ಸಮಯವಿಲ್ಲ	samayavilla	There is no time
ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಕಣ್ತುಂಬಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ	samayavannu kaṇṭumbikoḷḷi	Take time
ಸಮಯ ಕೊಟ್ಟು	samaya koṭṭu	Give time

Now that we have covered some basic vocabulary, asking for the time, and common phrases, let’s move on to some exercises to reinforce your learning!

Exercises

Here are some exercises to help you practice what you've learned:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct time vocabulary.

1. ________ (What time is it?) __________?

2. It is ________ (7 o'clock) ________.

3. Tomorrow morning is ________ (8 AM) ________.

4. I will come ________ (late) ________.

5. The meeting is at ________ (3 PM) ________.

Answers:

1. ಸಮಯ ಏನು (samaya ēnu)?

2. ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆ (ēḷu gaṇṭe).

3. ಎಂಟು ಗಂಟೆ (eṇṭu gaṇṭe).

4. ತಡವಾಗಿ (taḍavāgi).

5. ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ (madhyāhna mūru gaṇṭe).

Exercise 2: Matching

Match the Kannada phrases with their English translations.

1. 3:15

2. What time is it?

3. 12:30

4. Tomorrow night

5. 7:05

A. ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆ ಐದು ನಿಮಿಷ

B. ಏಕಾದಶ ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನೈದು ನಿಮಿಷ

C. ನಾಳೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ

D. ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನಂಭತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ

E. ಸಮಯ ಏನು?

Answers:

1. D - ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನಂಭತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ (3:15)

2. E - ಸಮಯ ಏನು? (What time is it?)

3. B - ಏಕಾದಶ ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನೈದು ನಿಮಿಷ (12:30)

4. C - ನಾಳೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ (Tomorrow night)

5. A - ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆ ಐದು ನಿಮಿಷ (7:05)

Exercise 3: Translate the following phrases into Kannada

1. What time is it?

2. It is 10:30 AM.

3. I will be late.

4. Tomorrow morning is 6 AM.

5. The meeting is at 2 PM.

Answers:

1. ಸಮಯ ಏನು? (samaya ēnu?)

2. ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ ಮೂವರು ನಿಮಿಷ (hattu gaṇṭe mūvaru nimiṣa).

3. ನಾನು ತಡವಾಗಿ ಬರುವೆ (nānu taḍavāgi baruve).

4. ನಾಳೆ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಆರು ಗಂಟೆ (nāḷe beḷagge āru gaṇṭe).

5. ಸಭೆ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ (sabhe madhyāhna eraḍu gaṇṭe).

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

Write sentences in Kannada using the following prompts:

1. What time is it?

2. It is 5:15.

3. I will come early.

4. Tomorrow night is the party at 8 PM.

5. I understand the time.

Sample Answers:

1. ಸಮಯ ಏನು? (samaya ēnu?)

2. ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನೂರ್ ನಿಮಿಷ (aidu gaṇṭe hadinūru nimiṣa).

3. ನಾನು ಮುಂಚೆ ಬರುವೆ (nānu munche baruve).

4. ನಾಳೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಹಬ್ಬ ಎಂಟು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ (nāḷe rātri habba eṇṭu gaṇṭege).

5. ನಾನು ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತೇನೆ (nānu samayavannu tiḷiyuttēne).

Exercise 5: Listening Exercise

Listen to someone say the time in Kannada and write it down.

Example Answer:

If you hear "ನಾಲ್ಕು ಗಂಟೆ" (nālku gaṇṭe), you write "4 o'clock".

Exercise 6: Group Activity

In pairs, ask each other for the time and respond using the vocabulary learned.

Example Conversation:

A: ಸಮಯ ಏನು? (samaya ēnu?)

B: ಇದು ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ (idhu hattu gaṇṭe).

Exercise 7: True or False

1. "ಎಂಟು ಗಂಟೆ" means "8 o'clock". (True)

2. "ನಾಳೆ" means "yesterday". (False)

3. "ಸಮಯ" means "time". (True)

4. "ತಡವಾಗಿ" means "early". (False)

5. "ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ" refers to the morning. (False)

Exercise 8: Write the Time

Write the time in Kannada for the following:

1. 11:45

2. 9:30

3. 2:15

4. 12:00

5. 6:50

Answers:

1. ಹನ್ನೊಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ತೋಂಭತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ (hannanḍu gaṇṭe tōmbhattu nimiṣa).

2. ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ ಮೂವರು ನಿಮಿಷ (ombattu gaṇṭe mūvaru nimiṣa).

3. ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನಂಬತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ (eraḍu gaṇṭe hadinambattu nimiṣa).

4. ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ಗಂಟೆ (hanneradu gaṇṭe).

5. ಆರು ಗಂಟೆ ಕ್ಕು (āru gaṇṭe kke).

Exercise 9: Fill in the Time

Fill in the correct time based on the description:

1. Tomorrow evening at 7 PM.

2. This morning at 8 AM.

3. Yesterday at 9:30 AM.

4. A meeting at 10:15.

5. Dinner at 8:00 PM.

Answers:

1. ನಾಳೆ ಸಂಜೆ ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ (nāḷe sanje ēḷu gaṇṭege).

2. ಇಂದು ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಎಂಟು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ (indu beḷagge eṇṭu gaṇṭege).

3. ನಿನ್ನೆ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ (ninne beḷagge ombattu gaṇṭege).

4. ಸಭೆ ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ ಹದಿನೈದು ನಿಮಿಷ (sabhe hattu gaṇṭe hadināidu nimiṣa).

5. ಡಿನ್ನರ್ ನಾಳೆ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಎಂಟು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ (ḍinnar nāḷe rātri eṇṭu gaṇṭege).

Exercise 10: Role Play

In groups, role-play a scenario where one person asks for the time, and another provides the answer. Use the vocabulary learned in this lesson.

Sample Role Play:

A: "ಸಮಯ ಏನು?" (samaya ēnu?)

B: "ಇದು ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ" (idu madhyāhna mūru gaṇṭe).

Congratulations! You've now dived into the world of telling time in Kannada. Practice these exercises regularly, and soon, you'll feel confident discussing time in your conversations. Remember, the key to mastering any language is consistent practice and engagement.

Table of Contents - Kannada Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Vowels
• Consonants
• Conjuncts

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers
• Days and Months
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns
• Pronouns

  ---

Common Verbs and Actions

• Basic Verbs
• Everyday Actions

  ---

Verb Conjugation

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People
• Describing Places
• Adverbs

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Food and Drink

• Meals and Ingredients
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Kannada Customs and Festivals

• Customs
• Festivals

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Kannada Literature and Cinema

• Literature
• Cinema

Sources

• How to tell time in Kannada
• Time in Kannada | How to tell time in Kannada - Learn Kannada Online
• Kannada - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Idiomatic Expressions
• Count to 10
• Languages (bhashegalu)
• Days and Months
• Travel Phrases
• Ordering at a Restaurant
• Modes of Transportation
• Food
• Days of the Week
• Days of the week (dinagalu)

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