Signification
Asking for the current time.
Contexte culturel
Romanians use both the 12-hour and 24-hour clock. In casual speech, 12-hour is preferred, but for any official schedule (trains, movies, appointments), the 24-hour clock is the norm. The 'Academic Quarter' (sfertul academic) is a tradition where being up to 15 minutes late is socially acceptable in universities or some business meetings. In cities like Bucharest or Cluj, life is fast-paced, and 'ora exactă' is important. You will see digital clocks in many public squares and metro stations. In villages, time can be more fluid. People might refer to 'toaca' (the beating of a wooden board in church) or the position of the sun, though smartphones have mostly replaced this.
The 'E' Shortcut
You can almost always say 'Ce oră e?' instead of 'este' to sound more like a native speaker.
Don't forget the 'ă'
Make sure to pronounce the 'ă' in 'oră' clearly, otherwise it might sound like 'oro' which isn't a word.
Signification
Asking for the current time.
The 'E' Shortcut
You can almost always say 'Ce oră e?' instead of 'este' to sound more like a native speaker.
Don't forget the 'ă'
Make sure to pronounce the 'ă' in 'oră' clearly, otherwise it might sound like 'oro' which isn't a word.
Politeness Matters
Always start with 'Mă scuzați' (Excuse me) when asking a stranger. Romanians value this small courtesy.
Teste-toi
Complete the standard phrase to ask for the time.
Ce ____ este?
The standard phrase is 'Ce oră este?'.
Which of these is a polite way to ask a stranger for the time?
Select the best option:
'Mă scuzați' adds the necessary politeness for a stranger.
Match the Romanian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.
A: Mă scuzați, ______? B: Este ora cinci fix.
The response gives the time, so the question must be asking for it.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesCe ____ este?
The standard phrase is 'Ce oră este?'.
Select the best option:
'Mă scuzați' adds the necessary politeness for a stranger.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
A: Mă scuzați, ______? B: Este ora cinci fix.
The response gives the time, so the question must be asking for it.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsSlightly. 'Ce oră este?' is the standard form found in textbooks, while 'Cât e ceasul?' is the most common everyday version. Both are perfectly acceptable.
You start with 'Este ora...' followed by the number. For example: 'Este ora trei' (It is three o'clock).
In Romanian, we always use the singular 'este' (or 'e') for the time, regardless of the hour. 'Este ora două', not 'Sunt orele două'.
You say 'Este ora unu' or 'Este ora una'. Both are used, but 'unu' is more common.
Use 'și jumătate'. For example: 'Este ora două și jumătate' (It is 2:30).
No, that's too short and sounds like you're missing words. Always include the verb 'este' or 'e'.
Yes, especially for official times. If a movie starts at 7 PM, someone might say 'la ora nouăsprezece'.
It means 'exactly'. 'Ora cinci fix' means exactly 5:00.
It's just a very short, informal way of asking 'What's the time?'. Use it only with friends.
Add 'în' + city name. 'Ce oră este în Londra?'.
Expressions liées
Cât e ceasul?
similarWhat time is it? (literally: How much is the clock?)
La ce oră?
builds onAt what time?
Ora exactă
specialized formThe exact time
E târziu
contrastIt is late
