Telling Time

Level 2

In Romanian, telling time uses the feminine noun ora (the hour). While most numbers stay the same, 2, 12, and 22 must be feminine (două), while 1 and 21 remain masculine (unu).

How It Works

Telling time in Romanian revolves around the word ora (the definite form of oră, meaning 'hour').

1. The Agreement Rule
Because ora is a feminine noun, the numbers that have gendered forms usually agree with it. However, there is a famous inconsistency:

  • Feminine Agreement: For the numbers 2, 12, and 22, you must use the feminine forms: două, douăsprezece, and douăzeci și două.
  • The Masculine Exception: For the numbers 1 and 21, you must use the masculine forms: unu and douăzeci și unu. Using the feminine una is considered incorrect for clock time.

2. Adding Minutes and Fractions
To express minutes past the hour, use the conjunction și (and). To express minutes until the next hour, use fără (without).

  • și un sfert: quarter past (:15)
  • și jumătate: half past (:30)
  • fără un sfert: quarter to (:45)
  • Example: ora trei și zece (3:10); ora patru fără cinci (five to four/3:55).

3. Prepositions and Register
To say "at" a certain time, use the preposition la (e.g., la ora cinci). In formal contexts, the full phrase este ora... is used, while in casual conversation, ora is often dropped (e.g., la două).

4. 12-hour vs 24-hour Clock
Romanians use the 24-hour clock for written schedules and formal announcements. In daily life, the 12-hour clock is preferred, often adding dimineața (in the morning), după-amiaza (in the afternoon), or seara (in the evening) to avoid confusion.

Examples (6)

  1. Este ora unu fix.

    It is exactly one o'clock.

    Word by Word: Is the-hour one fixed.

    Note the use of the masculine 'unu' despite 'ora' being feminine.

  2. Ne întâlnim la ora două.

    We are meeting at two o'clock.

    Word by Word: Us meet at the-hour two.

    The preposition la is used to indicate 'at' what time an event occurs. 'Două' is feminine to agree with 'ora'.

  3. Trenul pleacă la ora douăsprezece și un sfert.

    The train leaves at twelve fifteen (quarter past twelve).

    Word by Word: The-train leaves at the-hour twelve and a quarter.

    Use 'și' (and) to add minutes. 'Un sfert' means a quarter (15 minutes).

  4. Este ora opt și jumătate.

    It is half past eight.

    Word by Word: Is the-hour eight and half.

    'Și jumătate' is the standard way to express 'half past' the hour.

  5. Este ora cinci fără un sfert.

    It is quarter to five.

    Word by Word: Is the-hour five without a quarter.

    Use 'fără' (without) to indicate minutes remaining until the next hour.

  6. Spectacolul începe la ora douăzeci și două.

    The show starts at 22:00 (10:00 PM).

    Word by Word: The-show starts at the-hour twenty and two.

    For 22:00, we return to the feminine agreement: 'douăzeci și două'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'doi' instead of 'două' for 2:00.

    Este ora doi.
    Este ora două.

    While 'doi' is used for identification numbers (like Bus 2), clock time strictly requires the feminine 'două' in standard Romanian.

  • Using 'una' instead of 'unu' for 1:00.

    Este ora una.
    Este ora unu.

    Learners often over-correct to the feminine 'una' because 'ora' is feminine, but 'unu' is a fixed historical exception for time.

How It Connects

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

Telling TimeLevel 2

Learn This First

Learn the clock numerals with their fixed agreement: ora unu and ora douăzeci și unu, but ora două, ora douăsprezece and ora douăzeci și două. These are not all predicted by ordinary feminine agreement. The noun ora is the definite form of oră.

Words in This Pattern

oră