Telling Time in Greek

Grammar Extras

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Words You need to know:
τέταρτο (TE-tarto) = quarter
μισή (mi-SI) = half
η ώρα (ee O-ra) = the time
και (ke) = and (instead of the English "after")
παρά (pa-RA) = to (before)
λεπτό (le-PTΟ) = minute
δευτερόλεπτο (thefte-RO-lepto) = second
π.μ. = am (προ μεσημβρίας = pro mesim-VRI-as)
μ.μ. = pm (μετά μεσημβρίας = me-TA mesim-VRI-as)
Also you need to know the numbers.

Telling the time in Greek is quite simple. In Greek we always say the hour first and then the minutes. Pay attention to the drawings while you're studying:

The image on the left shows, that when the "minute hand" is in the right half of the clock, we say the: "number of the hour" + "και" + "number of minutes".
If the "minute hand" is in the left side of the clock, we say the: "number of the next hour" + "παρά" + "number of minutes".

When the "minute hand" is on the "3", we say the:
"number of the hour" + "και" + "τέταρτο".
If the "minute hand" is οn the "9" we say the: "number of the next hour" + "παρά" + "τέταρτο".
See image on the right.

When the "minute hand" is on the "6", we say the:
"number of the hour" + "και" + "μισή".
If the "minute hand" is οn the "12" we say the: "number of the hour" + "η ώρα" or just the number that the minute hand shows. The clock on the right says:
"Τέσσερις και μισή" which is translated to 4:30.

Look at the following example pictures :