abɔ nnɔn

Telling the Time: Abɔ Nnɔn

Level 2

Abɔ nnɔn nson means it is seven o'clock. Literally, the bells have struck seven.

How It Works

1. Asking the time
Abɔ sɛn? or Abɔ nnɔn sɛn? (What time is it?) Sɛn asks how much here. See sɛn.

2. The hour
Abɔ nnɔn, then the number from the numbers:

  • Abɔ nnɔn mmienu. (It is two o'clock.)
  • Abɔ nnɔn nson. (It is seven o'clock.)
  • Abɔ nnɔn du. (It is ten o'clock.)

3. One o'clock
One bell is singular: Abɔ dɔn baako (It is one o'clock).

4. Half past
Add ne fa (and a half): Abɔ nnɔn mmienu ne fa (It is half past two). You will also hear mpaamu: abɔ nnɔn mmienu mpaamu.

5. Minutes
Minutes are simma. Minutes past use apa ho: Abɔ nnɔn du apa ho simma du (It is ten past ten). Minutes to the hour use aka ... na: Aka simma du na abɔ nnɔn nkron (It is ten to nine, literally ten minutes remain before it strikes nine).

6. Morning or evening
Put anɔpa (morning) or anwummerɛ (evening) right before nnɔn: abɔ anɔpa nnɔn du (10 a.m.). See time words.

7. At a time
To say when something happens, add the time phrase at the end of the sentence, with or without abɔ: Mɛba nnɔn nnan (I will come at four).

Examples (6)

  1. Abɔ sɛn?

    What time is it?

    Word by Word: it-has-struck how-much

  2. Abɔ nnɔn nson.

    It is seven o'clock.

    Word by Word: it-has-struck bells seven

  3. Abɔ dɔn baako.

    It is one o'clock.

    Word by Word: it-has-struck bell one

    One o'clock uses the singular dɔn.

  4. Abɔ nnɔn mmienu ne fa.

    It is half past two.

    Word by Word: it-has-struck bells two and half

  5. Aka simma du na abɔ nnɔn nkron.

    It is ten to nine.

    Word by Word: remains minutes ten before it-strikes bells nine

  6. Mɛba nnɔn nnan.

    I will come at four o'clock.

    Word by Word: I-will-come bells four

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the number before nnɔn.

    Abɔ nson nnɔn.
    Abɔ nnɔn nson.

    Numbers follow what they count. Say nnɔn first, then the number.

  • Using the plural nnɔn for one o'clock.

    Abɔ nnɔn baako.
    Abɔ dɔn baako.

    One bell is singular, so one o'clock is dɔn baako.

How It Connects

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

abɔ nnɔnLevel 2Telling the Time: Abɔ Nnɔn

Learn This First

Clock time combines the perfect with a number.

Words in This Pattern

dɔnbɔ