Telling the Time

Level 2

Jedan je sat. Dva su sata. Pet je sati. Pola tri means 2:30, because it is half way to three.

How It Works

TimeBosnian
1:00Jedan je sat.
2:00Dva su sata.
5:00Pet je sati.
2:30Pola tri.
12:00Podne je.

The word pola means "half", and the hour that follows is the one you are heading to. Pola tri is half way to three, so it is 2:30. English works the other way round, so this is the most common trap.

For minutes, use Tri i petnaest or Petnaest do tri in daily talk. The 24-hour clock is also used: Sada je petnaest sati. Midnight is ponoć.

With the verb, je goes with one and with five or more, and su is the usual choice with two, three and four, since the number is felt as plural.

Examples (5)

  1. Koliko je sati?

    What time is it?

    This is the standard question.

  2. Jedan je sat.

    It is one o'clock.

    Sat for one.

  3. Tri su sata.

    It is three o'clock.

    Sata after three, with su.

  4. Sada je pola devet.

    It is half past eight.

    Pola devet is 8:30.

  5. Podne je.

    It is noon.

    A fixed phrase for 12:00.

Common Mistakes

  • Using pola tri for 3:30.

    Sastanak je u pola tri. (meant: 3:30)
    Sastanak je u pola četiri.

    Bosnian counts half way to the next hour, so 3:30 is pola četiri and pola tri is 2:30.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Telling the TimeLevel 2

Learn This First

Telling time uses numbers and biti.

Words in This Pattern

satpolapodneponoć