Telling Time

This is how to ask for time and tell time to someone in the great language of Gaeilge. (Written at: A cúig déag i ndiaith a sé.)How to Ask for/Tell the Time

Cén t-am é? – kayn tum ay - What time is it?

Tá sé a haon a chlog. – taw shay uh hown uh khlaug - It’s one o’clock.

Tá sé a dó a chlog. – taw shay uh doe uh khlaug- It’s two o’clock.

Tá sé a trí a chlog. – taw shay uh tree uh khlaug - It’s three o’clock.Tá sé a ceathair a chlog. – taw shay uh cah-her uh khlaug - It’s four o’clock.

Tá sé a cúig a chlog. – taw shay uh koo-ig uh khlaug - It’s five o’clock. Tá sé a sé a chlog. – taw shay uh shay uh khlaug - It’s six o’clock. Tá sé a seacht a chlog. – taw shay uh shokht uh khlaug - It’s seven o’clock. Tá sé a hocht a chlog. – taw shay uh haukht uh khlaug - It’s eight o’clock.Tá sé a naoi a chlog. – taw shay unnoy uh khlaug - It’s nine o’clock.

Tá sé a deich a chlog. – taw shay uh jekh uh khlaug - It’s ten o’clock. Tá sé a haon déag a chlog. – taw shay uh hown jayg uh khlaug - It’s eleven o’clock.Tá sé a dó dhéag a chlog. – taw shay a doe yayg uh khlaug - It’s twelve o’clock.

Timeal (hehe) Units

uair an chloig – oo-er un khlaug - hour

nóiméad – noe-mayd - minute

soicind – shi-kihnd - second

Telling Odd Times (as in 8:20 and the like)

Fiche i ndiath a hocht – fih-kheh ih njeeuh uh haukht - Twenty past eight

Leath i ndiaidh a hocht – lay ih nee-eye uh haukht - Half past eight

Ceathrú chun a naoi – kyah-hroo kh-un unnoy - Quarter to nine

A cúig i ndiaith a naoi – uh koo-ig ih nee-eye unnoy - Five past nine

Therefore, just add “Tá sé..” to the beginning to make it “It’s..”

Other Time Related Things

Meán lae – mawn lay - Mid-day

Meán oíche – mawn ee-khey - Midnight

Ar maidin – ur may-jin - In the morning

Tráthnóna – traw-noe-nuh - In afternoon

San oíche – sun ee-khey - At night

Written by ÓBroin anFiach.

There’s a lesson dedicated to telling the time if you sign up for Bitesize Irish Gaelic.