A0 Time Expressions 5 min read Facile

Dire l'heure en kannada (Gante, Nimisha)

To tell time in Kannada, state the hour number + gante, then the minute number + nimisha.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To tell time in Kannada, use the number followed by 'ಗಂಟೆ' (gaṇṭe) for 'o'clock'.

  • Use cardinal numbers + ಗಂಟೆ (gaṇṭe) for exact hours, e.g., 'ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ' (ondu gaṇṭe) for 1 o'clock.
  • Add 'ಸಮಯ' (samaya) to ask 'What is the time?': 'ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು?' (samaya eṣṭu?).
  • Use 'ಮುಕ್ಕಾಲು' (mukkālu) for 45 minutes and 'ಅರ್ಧ' (ardha) for 30 minutes.
Number + ಗಂಟೆ (gaṇṭe) = Time

Overview

Avez-vous déjà essayé de prendre un bus à Bengaluru... (French translation maintaining sections)

Meanings

Telling time involves using cardinal numbers paired with the classifier 'ಗಂಟೆ' (gaṇṭe) to denote the hour.

1

Exact Hour

Stating the current hour on the clock.

“ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ (eraḍu gaṇṭe)”

“ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ (aidu gaṇṭe)”

2

Asking Time

Inquiring about the current time.

“ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು? (samaya eṣṭu?)”

“ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಂಟೆಯಾಗಿದೆ? (eṣṭu gaṇṭeyāgide?)”

3

Half and Quarter

Expressing fractions of an hour.

“ಒಂದೂವರೆ ಗಂಟೆ (ondūvare gaṇṭe)”

“ಎರಡೂ ಮುಕ್ಕಾಲು (eraḍū mukkālu)”

Time Expression Formation

Number Suffix Meaning Example
ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ 1 o'clock ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ
ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ 2 o'clock ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ
ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ 3 o'clock ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ
ನಾಲ್ಕು ಗಂಟೆ 4 o'clock ನಾಲ್ಕು ಗಂಟೆ
ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ 5 o'clock ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ
ಆರು ಗಂಟೆ 6 o'clock ಆರು ಗಂಟೆ

Common Time Fractions

Fraction Kannada Term
Half ಅರ್ಧ (ardha)
Quarter ಕಾಲು (kālu)
Three-quarters ಮುಕ್ಕಾಲು (mukkālu)

Reference Table

Reference table for Dire l'heure en kannada (Gante, Nimisha)
Time Kannada Phrase Literal Meaning
1:00 Ondu gante One hour/bell
2:15 Eradu kaalu Two [and a] quarter
3:30 Mooruvare Three [and a] half
4:45 Aidu mukkaalu Five [to] three-quarters (4:45)
6:10 Aaru gante hattu nimisha Six hour ten minute
10:00 AM Belagge hattu gante Morning ten hour
8:00 PM Raatri entu gante Night eight hour

Spectre de formalité

Formel
ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು?

ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು? (Asking for time)

Neutre
ಟೈಮ್ ಎಷ್ಟು?

ಟೈಮ್ ಎಷ್ಟು? (Asking for time)

Informel
ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಂಟೆ?

ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಂಟೆ? (Asking for time)

Argot
ಟೈಮ್ ಎಷ್ಟಾಯ್ತು?

ಟೈಮ್ ಎಷ್ಟಾಯ್ತು? (Asking for time)

The Anatomy of Kannada Time

Time (Samaya)

Units

  • Gante Hour/O'clock
  • Nimisha Minute

Fractions

  • Kaalu Quarter (:15)
  • Vare Half (:30)
  • Mukkaalu Three-quarters (:45)

English vs Kannada Time Order

English Style
8 AM Time then Period
Quarter past 2 Fraction then Hour
Kannada Style
Belagge 8 Period then Time
Eradu kaalu Hour then Fraction

How to build a time phrase

1

Is it an exact hour?

YES
Use [Number] + Gante
NO
Go to next step
2

Is it :15, :30, or :45?

YES
Use [Number] + Kaalu/Vare/Mukkaalu
NO ↓

Times of Day (AM/PM Markers)

☀️

Morning/Day

  • • Belagge (Morning)
  • • Madhyahna (Afternoon)
🌙

Evening/Night

  • • Sanje (Evening)
  • • Raatri (Night)
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Examples by Level

1

ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ

One o'clock

2

ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ

Two o'clock

3

ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ

Three o'clock

4

ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು?

What is the time?

1

ನಾಲ್ಕುವರೆ ಗಂಟೆ

Four-thirty

2

ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ ಹತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ

Five ten

3

ಆರು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಬನ್ನಿ

Come at six o'clock

4

ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆ ಆಗಿದೆ

It is seven o'clock

1

ನಾನು ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆಗಳ ಕಾಲ ಕಾದೆ

I waited for two hours

2

ಸಭೆಯು ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ

The meeting starts at ten

3

ಎಂಟೂ ಮುಕ್ಕಾಲು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಹೊರಡೋಣ

Let's leave at quarter to nine

4

ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಯ ಒಳಗೆ ಮುಗಿಸಿ

Finish within nine o'clock

1

ಅವರು ಹನ್ನೊಂದು ಗಂಟೆ ಸುಮಾರಿಗೆ ಬಂದರು

They arrived around eleven

2

ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ಗಂಟೆ ಕಳೆದಿದೆ

Twelve o'clock has passed

3

ಸಮಯದ ಮಿತಿ ಇರುವುದರಿಂದ ಬೇಗ ಬನ್ನಿ

Since there is a time limit, come early

4

ನಿಖರವಾಗಿ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಹಾಜರಾಗಿ

Be present exactly at three

1

ಕಾಲದ ಹರಿವನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸುವುದು ಮುಖ್ಯ

Observing the flow of time is important

2

ಅರ್ಧ ಗಂಟೆಯ ವಿಳಂಬವಾಯಿತು

There was a half-hour delay

3

ಸಮಯದ ಅಭಾವದಿಂದ ಕೆಲಸ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ

Work was not completed due to lack of time

4

ಪ್ರತಿ ಗಂಟೆಗೂ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿ

Observe changes every hour

1

ಸಮಯದ ಚಕ್ರವು ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗುತ್ತದೆ

The cycle of time moves continuously

2

ಅಪಾರ ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ವ್ಯರ್ಥ ಮಾಡಬೇಡಿ

Do not waste immense time

3

ಸಮಯೋಚಿತ ನಿರ್ಧಾರವು ಬಹಳ ಮುಖ್ಯ

A timely decision is very important

4

ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಕಾಯುವುದು ಬೇಸರದ ಕೆಲಸ

Waiting for hours is a boring task

Easily Confused

Telling Time in Kannada (Gante, Nimisha) vs Clock Time vs Duration

Learners use 'gante' for both.

Erreurs courantes

✗

ಐದು

✓

ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ

Missing the classifier.
✗

ಸಮಯ ಏನು?

✓

ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು?

Wrong interrogative.
✗

ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ

✓

ಒಂದು ಗಂಟೆ

Adding locative when stating time.
✗

ಗಂಟೆ ಐದು

✓

ಐದು ಗಂಟೆ

Wrong word order.
✗

ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆಗಳ

✓

ಎರಡು ಗಂಟೆ

Confusing duration with clock time.
✗

ಅರ್ಧ ಗಂಟೆ

✓

ನಾಲ್ಕುವರೆ

Using 'half' as a noun instead of adjective.
✗

ಹತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ ಗಂಟೆ

✓

ಹತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷ

Redundant usage.
✗

ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆ ಕಾಲ

✓

ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆಗಳ ಕಾಲ

Missing plural marker for duration.
✗

ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆ ಒಳಗೆ

✓

ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಯ ಒಳಗೆ

Missing genitive marker.
✗

ಸಮಯದ ಮಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ

✓

ಸಮಯದ ಮಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲ

Missing sandhi.
✗

ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ

✓

ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಕಾದೆ

Verb conjugation error.
✗

ಸಮಯೋಚಿತವಾದ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ

✓

ಸಮಯೋಚಿತ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ

Redundant adjective.
✗

ಪ್ರತಿ ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ

✓

ಪ್ರತಿ ಗಂಟೆಗೂ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ

Wrong particle.

Sentence Patterns

ಈಗ ___ ಗಂಟೆ

Real World Usage

Bus station constant

ಬಸ್ ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ?

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💡

The 'Vare' Exception

Remember that 1:30 is always onduvare. Don't say ondu gante muvattu nimisha unless you're reading a formal digital clock out loud!
⚠️

AM/PM Position

Always put the time of day (like belagge) at the very start of the sentence. Putting it at the end sounds like a direct translation from English and is confusing.
💬

The 'IST' Factor

In Karnataka, like much of India, '5:00' might actually mean '5:15' socially. But in Kannada grammar, aidu gante means exactly 5:00!

Smart Tips

Use 'samaya eshtu'.

Time? → Samaya eshtu?

Prononciation

GA-N-TE

Gante

The 'ṇ' is a retroflex sound.

Question

ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Gante is the bell that rings every hour.

Visual Association

Imagine a large clock tower in Karnataka; every time the bell rings, it shouts 'Gante!'.

Rhyme

Time is money, time is sweet, just add Gante to the beat.

Story

Ravi looked at his watch. It was 5 o'clock. He said 'Aidu Gante'. He waited for his friend for two hours. He was tired.

Word Web

ಗಂಟೆಸಮಯನಿಮಿಷಎಷ್ಟುಅರ್ಧಕಾಲು

Défi

Look at a clock right now and say the time out loud in Kannada.

Notes culturelles

Time is often flexible in social settings.

Derived from Sanskrit 'ghanta'.

Conversation Starters

“

ಸಮಯ ಎಷ್ಟು?

Journal Prompts

Write your daily schedule.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank to say 'It is 4 o'clock'.

Eega naalku ____.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gante
In Kannada, 'gante' is the word used for 'o'clock' or 'hours'.
How do you say 'Half past two' (2:30) naturally? Choix multiple

Choose the most natural option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eraduvare
'Vare' is the standard suffix for 'half past' in Kannada.
Fix the mistake in this time expression for 5:15. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Aidu gante hannondu nimisha.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aidu kaalu
'Kaalu' means quarter, so 'Aidu kaalu' is 5:15.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

ಈಗ ___ ಗಂಟೆ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ಎಲ್ಲವೂ
All are valid numbers.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Translate '10:00 AM' to Kannada. Traduction

10:00 AM

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Belagge hattu gante
Reorder to say 'It is 7 o'clock now'. Sentence Reorder

gante / Eega / elu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eega elu gante
Match the English time to the Kannada word. Match Pairs

Match the terms:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kaalu, Vare, Mukkaalu, Gante
Fill in the blank: 'At 9 o'clock' is 'Ombattu ____'. Texte trous

Ombattu ____

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ganteye
Which one means 12:45? Choix multiple

Select the correct Kannada for 12:45:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hanneradu mukkaalu
Correct the order: '8:00 PM' is not 'Entu gante raatri'. Error Correction

Entu gante raatri

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Raatri entu gante
Translate 'Five minutes' to Kannada. Traduction

Five minutes

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aidu nimisha
Fill in the blank: 'It is 1:30' is '____vare'. Texte trous

____vare

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ondu
How do you ask 'What is the time?' in a friendly way? Choix multiple

Choose the question:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Samaya eshtu?
Reorder: 'At 3:15'. Sentence Reorder

kaalige / Mooru

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mooru kaalige

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

It means hour.

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Son las...

Kannada uses singular classifier.

French moderate

Il est...

Kannada is agglutinative.

German moderate

Es ist...

Kannada suffix position.

Japanese high

...ji

Kannada word order.

Arabic moderate

Al-sa'a...

Kannada script.

Chinese moderate

...dian

Kannada grammar.

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