Bedeutung
Asking for the current time.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Asking a stranger for the time is a very common and socially acceptable 'icebreaker' if you need help, though it's becoming rarer with smartphones. In fast-paced cities like Kyiv, people might answer very briefly, just giving the number (e.g., 'Друга') without saying 'година'. In Lviv and other western regions, you might hear more traditional or slightly dialectal time-telling, but 'Котра година?' remains the gold standard. Younger Ukrainians are increasingly using 24-hour time in speech (e.g., 'сімнадцята' for 5 PM) to avoid ambiguity, especially when scheduling online.
The 'Which' Rule
Always remember that you are asking 'Which hour is it?'. This helps you remember to use 'Kotra' and answer with 'Persha', 'Druha', etc.
Avoid 'Skilky'
While people will understand 'Skilky hodyn?', it is a major marker of non-native or Russian-influenced speech. Stick to 'Kotra' to sound more authentic.
Bedeutung
Asking for the current time.
The 'Which' Rule
Always remember that you are asking 'Which hour is it?'. This helps you remember to use 'Kotra' and answer with 'Persha', 'Druha', etc.
Avoid 'Skilky'
While people will understand 'Skilky hodyn?', it is a major marker of non-native or Russian-influenced speech. Stick to 'Kotra' to sound more authentic.
Politeness adds 'Pizkazhit'
If asking a stranger, start with 'Pizkazhit, bud laska...' (Tell me, please...). It makes you sound very fluent and respectful.
24-Hour Clock
Ukrainians use the 24-hour clock for schedules (trains, TV), but in casual speech, they often use 12-hour numbers. If it's 17:00, they might say 'P'yata' (5th) instead of 'Simnadtsyata' (17th).
Teste dich selbst
Choose the most natural and correct way to ask for the time in Ukrainian.
Вибачте, ...
'Котра зараз година?' is the grammatically correct and culturally preferred form.
Fill in the missing word to complete the question.
_____ зараз година?
Since 'година' is feminine, we must use the feminine 'Котра'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct response.
Олег: Котра зараз година? Марія: Зараз ... (1:00).
In Ukrainian, we answer with the feminine ordinal number to match the implied 'година'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a formal business meeting and need to check the time politely.
Adding 'Підкажіть, будь ласка' makes the standard phrase appropriate for a formal setting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Ukrainian vs. Russian Time Inquiry
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenВибачте, ...
'Котра зараз година?' is the grammatically correct and culturally preferred form.
_____ зараз година?
Since 'година' is feminine, we must use the feminine 'Котра'.
Олег: Котра зараз година? Марія: Зараз ... (1:00).
In Ukrainian, we answer with the feminine ordinal number to match the implied 'година'.
You are at a formal business meeting and need to check the time politely.
Adding 'Підкажіть, будь ласка' makes the standard phrase appropriate for a formal setting.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's very common and perfectly acceptable in casual speech. 'Котра' is just slightly more formal and 'traditionally' correct.
You say 'Пів на шосту' (Half toward the sixth). Ukrainian time-telling for minutes is quite complex!
Because 'година' (hour) is a feminine noun in Ukrainian.
Yes, 'зараз' (now) is optional and often dropped in quick conversation.
No, Ukrainians use 'ранку' (of the morning), 'дня' (of the day), 'вечора' (of the evening), and 'ночі' (of the night).
People will still understand you, but it will sound like a clear grammatical error.
The core phrase is the same, though the accent might vary slightly.
Use 'Котра година на вашому годиннику?' or 'Скільки на вашому?'.
Only in very informal slang like 'Час є?', but it's not standard.
'Вибачте, чи не підкажете ви, котра зараз година?'
Verwandte Redewendungen
О котрій годині?
specialized formAt what time?
Яка зараз година?
synonymWhat time is it?
Час летить
similarTime flies
Вчасно
builds onOn time
Зараз
builds onNow / Immediately
