mis kell on
Telling the Time
Mis kell on? – Kell on kaks. (2:00) · veerand kolm (2:15) · pool kolm (2:30) · kolmveerand kolm (2:45)
How It Works
Asking and answering
Mis kell on? (What time is it?) – Kell on kolm. (It's three o'clock.) The numbers are the ordinary numerals 0-10 and numerals 11-19 (-teist).
Quarters and halves
- veerand kolm – a quarter of the way to three: 2:15
- pool kolm – half of the way to three: 2:30
- kolmveerand kolm – three quarters of the way to three: 2:45
Minutes
- after the hour: viis minutit üle kahe (five past two)
- before the hour: kümne minuti pärast kolm (ten to three, literally “in ten minutes three”)
At what time?
To say when something happens, use kell + the time with no ending: Film algab kell kaheksa. (The film starts at eight.) Mis kell sa tuled? (What time are you coming?) For “until five” or “by five”, the number takes an ending: see clock time in cases.
Morning or evening
Add a time of day: kell seitse hommikul (7 a.m.), kell kümme õhtul (10 p.m.). See times of day with -l. Timetables use the 24-hour clock, written with a period: kell 14.30, read neliteist kolmkümmend.
Examples (6)
- Mis kell on? – Kell on kolm.
What time is it? – It's three o'clock.
Word by Word: what clock is – clock is three
- Kell on pool kaheksa.
It's half past seven.
Word by Word: clock is half eight
pool kaheksa is halfway to eight, so 7:30.
- Kell on veerand kümme.
It's a quarter past nine.
Word by Word: clock is quarter ten
- Kell on kolmveerand kaks.
It's a quarter to two.
Word by Word: clock is three-quarter two
- Kell on viis minutit üle kuue.
It's five past six.
Word by Word: clock is five minute(PART) over six(GEN)
- Mis kell film algab? – Kell kaheksa.
What time does the film start? – At eight.
Word by Word: what clock film starts – clock eight
Common Mistakes
Counting the half hour from the past hour, as in English.
Kell on pool kaks. (meaning 2:30)Kell on pool kolm.pool kaks is 1:30. In Estonian the half hour points to the coming hour, so 2:30 is pool kolm.
Using a case ending for “at” a time.
Me kohtume viiel.Me kohtume kell viis.Clock times use kell with the plain number: kell viis (at five).
Writing kolmveerand as two words.
Kell on kolm veerand kolm.Kell on kolmveerand kolm.kolmveerand (three quarters) is one word.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Telling the time needs the numbers.
Related Patterns
- Teens with -teist
Eleven and twelve o'clock, and 24-hour times like neliteist.
Level 1 - Clock Times with Endings
How to say until five, from five and by five.
Level 3 - Times of Day with -l
Adds morning, afternoon or evening to a time.
Level 2 - Days with -l
Often combined with a clock time: reedel kell viis.
Level 1 - misWhat (Mis)
The question word in Mis kell on?
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice mis kell on in Bubblegum
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