Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Telling-Time
Telling time is a necessary skill in any language, and Latin is no exception. In this lesson, you will learn how to tell time in Latin, including the different ways to express the time according to the hour and minute.
Basic Vocabulary
Before we dive into how to tell time, let’s first review some basic vocabulary that is necessary when telling time in Latin.
- Hour – hora (feminine)
- Minute – pars minuta prima (abbreviated as P.M.P.)
These translations may seem intimidating, but don’t worry, they will become easier with practice.
Telling Time
When telling time in Latin, you usually take the number of the hour and add the word hora to it. For example, to say “it’s one o’clock”, you would say "hora est prima". Here are some other examples:
- "Hora est secunda" – It’s two o'clock
- "Hora est tertia" – It’s three o'clock
- "Hora est sexta" – It’s six o'clock
To express minutes, you add the word pars minuta prima (P.M.P.) after the hour. For example:
- "Hora est prima P.M.P." – It’s one minute past one o'clock
- "Hora est secunda P.M.P." – It’s one minute past two o'clock
- "Hora est quinta P.M.P." – It’s one minute past five o'clock
To express times between the hours, you use the word inter (between) or ad (to). For example:
- "Hora est inter tertiam et quartam" – It’s between three and four o'clock
- "Hora est ad quintam et triginta" – It’s thirty minutes past five o'clock
Practice
Let’s practice what we learned! Below are some examples of how to tell the time in Latin. Study them carefully, and then try to write down what they mean.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hora est tertia | Hō-ră ĕst tĕr-tĭa | It's three o'clock |
| Hora est sexta et quadraginta | Hō-ră ĕst sĕx-ta ĕt quă-druh-gĭn-ta | It's six forty-five |
| Hora est undecima praeter pars trium | Hō-ră ĕst ūn-dĕ-cĭ-ma pră-ĕ-tĕr părs trē-ŭm | It's ten to three |
| Hora est post meridiem | Hō-ră ĕst pōst mĕ-rĭ-dē-ēm | It's in the afternoon (after twelve o'clock) |
Did you get them all right? Remember, practice makes perfect!
Additional Expressions
When telling time in Latin, there are some additional expressions you might encounter. Here are a few:
- Mane – Morning (until 9 a.m.)
- Mediā nocte – Midnight
- Vesper – Evening (from 6 p.m. to sunset)
- Nocte – Night (after sunset)
Here are some examples of how to use these expressions:
- "Hora est septima mane" – It’s seven o’clock in the morning
- "Hora est duodecima mediā nocte" – It’s midnight
- "Hora est septima vesper" – It’s seven in the evening
- "Hora est decima nocte" – It’s ten at night
These additional expressions can add further context to your time expressions, making your communication more precise and descriptive.
Conclusion
That's it for telling time in Latin! As you can see, it’s not as difficult as it may seem at first. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fluently tell time in Latin and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge. Keep up the good work, and don’t forget to practice regularly!