Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
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Welcome to our exciting lesson on telling time in Latin! Understanding how to express time is essential in any language, and Latin is no exception. Not only will it enrich your vocabulary, but it will also allow you to engage more deeply with the texts and cultures of ancient Rome. In this lesson, we will explore how to ask for the time, how to tell the time, and various expressions related to time.
Throughout this lesson, we will cover the following topics:
- Basic vocabulary related to time
- How to express hours and minutes
- Common phrases and expressions used when discussing time
- Exercises to practice your new skills
Before we dive in, let’s make sure you have a solid foundation. If you haven’t reviewed the numbers 1-100 yet, I recommend you do so, as they will be crucial for telling time effectively. Now, let’s jump into the world of time in Latin!
Basic Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
First, let's familiarize ourselves with some basic vocabulary related to time. Below is a table that includes essential terms you'll need.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| hora | /ˈhoː.ra/ | hour |
| minutum | /miˈnuː.tum/ | minute |
| tempus | /ˈtem.pus/ | time |
| mane | /ˈma.ne/ | morning |
| meridies | /meˈri.di.es/ | noon |
| vesper | /ˈwes.per/ | evening |
| nox | /nɔks/ | night |
| ante meridiem | /ˈan.te meˈri.di.em/ | a.m. (before noon) |
| post meridiem | /ˈpos.t merˈi.di.em/ | p.m. (after noon) |
| semis | /ˈse.mis/ | half |
These terms will be the building blocks for telling time in Latin. Let's explore how to use them!
Telling Hours[edit | edit source]
In Latin, telling the hour is quite straightforward. The structure is similar to English, where you state the hour first. Below are some examples.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hora prima | /ˈhoː.ra ˈpri.ma/ | It is one o'clock. |
| Hora secunda | /ˈhoː.ra seˈkun.da/ | It is two o'clock. |
| Hora tertia | /ˈhoː.ra ˈter.ti.a/ | It is three o'clock. |
| Hora quarta | /ˈhoː.ra ˈkwar.ta/ | It is four o'clock. |
| Hora quinta | /ˈhoː.ra ˈkin.ta/ | It is five o'clock. |
| Hora sexta | /ˈhoː.ra ˈsek.sta/ | It is six o'clock. |
| Hora septima | /ˈhoː.ra ˈsep.ti.ma/ | It is seven o'clock. |
| Hora octava | /ˈhoː.ra okˈta.va/ | It is eight o'clock. |
| Hora nona | /ˈhoː.ra ˈno.na/ | It is nine o'clock. |
| Hora decima | /ˈhoː.ra ˈde.ki.ma/ | It is ten o'clock. |
When you want to indicate that it's a specific time, you simply state the hour followed by “et” (and) and the minutes. Let’s take a closer look at that.
Telling Minutes[edit | edit source]
To express minutes, we use the structure of "hour + et + minutes." Here’s how to say some specific times:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hora prima et quinque | /ˈhoː.ra ˈpri.ma et ˈkwin.ge/ | It is one o'clock and five minutes. |
| Hora secunda et decem | /ˈhoː.ra seˈkun.da et ˈde.kem/ | It is two o'clock and ten minutes. |
| Hora tertia et quindecim | /ˈhoː.ra ˈter.ti.a et kwinˈde.kim/ | It is three o'clock and fifteen minutes. |
| Hora quarta et viginti | /ˈhoː.ra ˈkwar.ta et wiˈgin.ti/ | It is four o'clock and twenty minutes. |
| Hora quinta et triginta | /ˈhoː.ra ˈkin.ta et triˈgin.ta/ | It is five o'clock and thirty minutes. |
| Hora sexta et quadraginta | /ˈhoː.ra ˈsek.sta et kwaˈdra.gin.ta/ | It is six o'clock and forty minutes. |
| Hora septima et quinquaginta | /ˈhoː.ra ˈsep.ti.ma et kwin.kwaˈgin.ta/ | It is seven o'clock and fifty minutes. |
| Hora octava et sexaginta | /ˈhoː.ra okˈta.va et sɛkˈsa.gin.ta/ | It is eight o'clock and sixty minutes. (Note: This is not standard; we usually use only 0-59 minutes.) |
It’s important to note that in Latin, we typically only use minutes from 1 to 59. The concept of “half past” is also expressed using the word “semis” (half). For example:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hora prima et semis | /ˈhoː.ra ˈpri.ma et ˈse.mis/ | It is one thirty (half past one). |
| Hora secunda et semis | /ˈhoː.ra seˈkun.da et ˈse.mis/ | It is two thirty (half past two). |
Expressing Time in the Context of Day Parts[edit | edit source]
As we move through the day, it's useful to know how to express different parts of the day. Here are some expressions:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mane et hora prima | /ˈma.ne et ˈhoː.ra ˈpri.ma/ | In the morning at one o'clock. |
| Meridies et hora secunda | /meˈri.di.es et ˈhoː.ra seˈkun.da/ | At noon at two o'clock. |
| Vesper et hora tertia | /ˈwes.per et ˈhoː.ra ˈter.ti.a/ | In the evening at three o'clock. |
| Nox et hora quarta | /nɔks et ˈhoː.ra ˈkwar.ta/ | At night at four o'clock. |
This is a great way to contextualize the time you’re speaking about. Now, let’s move on to some common phrases related to time.
Common Phrases[edit | edit source]
Here are some common phrases you might use when discussing time in Latin.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Quid est hora? | /kwid est ˈhoː.ra/ | What time is it? |
| Tempus fugit. | /ˈtem.pus ˈfu.git/ | Time flies. |
| Hora est. | /ˈhoː.ra est/ | It is the hour. |
| Ad meridiem. | /ad meˈri.di.em/ | Until noon. |
| Post meridiem. | /post meˈri.di.em/ | After noon. |
Understanding these phrases is essential for engaging in conversations about time. Now that you’ve gained a solid foundation, let’s put your skills to the test!
Exercises[edit | edit source]
Here are some exercises to help you practice what you’ve learned. Each exercise includes detailed solutions and explanations for your benefit.
Exercise 1: Translate the Following Times[edit | edit source]
Translate the following times into Latin:
1. 1:05
2. 2:15
3. 3:30
4. 4:45
5. 5:50
Solutions:
1. Hora prima et quinque (It is one o'clock and five minutes.)
2. Hora secunda et quindecim (It is two o'clock and fifteen minutes.)
3. Hora tertia et semis (It is three thirty.)
4. Hora quarta et quadraginta quinque (It is four o'clock and forty-five minutes.)
5. Hora quinta et quinquaginta (It is five o'clock and fifty minutes.)
Exercise 2: Answer the Questions[edit | edit source]
Respond to the following questions in Latin:
1. Quid est hora? (What time is it?)
2. Tempus fugit. (Time flies.)
3. Quid est tempus? (What time is it?)
Solutions:
1. (Your answer will depend on the time you look at the clock.)
2. Tempus fugit.
3. (Your answer will depend on the current time.)
Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Fill in the blanks with the correct Latin terms.
1. Hora ____ et ____ (hour and minutes).
2. Mane et hora ____ (morning and hour).
3. Nox et hora ____ (night and hour).
Solutions:
1. Hora prima et quinque (It is one o'clock and five minutes.)
2. Mane et hora prima (In the morning at one o'clock.)
3. Nox et hora quarta (At night at four o'clock.)
Exercise 4: Match the Time with the Latin Phrase[edit | edit source]
Match the English time with the correct Latin phrase:
1. 1:30 - a) Hora quinta et semis
2. 2:15 - b) Hora secunda et quindecim
3. 3:45 - c) Hora tertia et quadraginta quinque
Solutions:
1. c) Hora tertia et quadraginta quinque (1:30 is three o'clock and forty-five minutes.)
2. b) Hora secunda et quindecim (2:15 is two o'clock and fifteen minutes.)
3. a) Hora quinta et semis (3:30 is five o'clock and half past.)
Exercise 5: Create Your Own Time[edit | edit source]
Write your own sentences in Latin to express the following times:
1. 6:00
2. 7:20
3. 8:35
Solutions:
1. Hora sexta (It is six o'clock.)
2. Hora septima et viginti (It is seven o'clock and twenty minutes.)
3. Hora octava et triginta quinque (It is eight o'clock and thirty-five minutes.)
Exercise 6: Identify the Errors[edit | edit source]
Identify the errors in these sentences and correct them:
1. Hora prima et sextaginta (It is one o'clock and sixty minutes.)
2. Mane et hora tertia et quindecim (In the morning at three o'clock and fifteen minutes.)
Solutions:
1. Corrected: Hora prima et quinque (It is one o'clock and five minutes.)
2. Corrected: Mane et hora tertia et quindecim (In the morning at three o'clock and fifteen minutes.)
Exercise 7: Translate the Phrases[edit | edit source]
Translate the following phrases to English:
1. Tempus fugit.
2. Ad meridiem.
3. Post meridiem.
Solutions:
1. Time flies.
2. Until noon.
3. After noon.
Exercise 8: Role Play[edit | edit source]
In pairs, practice asking for the time and responding in Latin. One student asks, "Quid est hora?" and the other responds with the current time.
Solutions:
Responses will vary depending on the time of day. Encourage students to use different times in their responses.
Exercise 9: Create a Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Write a short dialogue about planning a meeting time using the vocabulary learned.
Solutions:
Example dialogue:
A: Quid est hora? (What time is it?)
B: Hora secunda est. (It is two o'clock.)
A: Conveniamus ad horam tertiam? (Shall we meet at three o'clock?)
B: Bene, conveniamus! (Good, let’s meet!)
Exercise 10: Time Expressions[edit | edit source]
Write sentences using the following time expressions:
1. Mane
2. Meridies
3. Vesper
Solutions:
1. Mane et hora prima, ego surgo. (In the morning at one o'clock, I wake up.)
2. Meridies et hora secunda, ego prandium sum. (At noon at two o'clock, I eat lunch.)
3. Vesper et hora tertia, ego legere amo. (In the evening at three o'clock, I love to read.)
Congratulations! You've just completed the lesson on telling time in Latin. Remember to practice these skills regularly, as they will serve you well in both reading and speaking Latin. Keep exploring the language, and soon you’ll be able to express not only time but also many other fascinating concepts in Latin!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Time
- How to say Good Bye?
- Animal
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Months Days Planets
- Modes of Transportation
- Count from 1 to 10
- Parts of the Body
- Latin Quotes
| ◀️ Numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Present Tense ▶️ |