Meaning
Asking for the current time.
Cultural Background
Slovenians are very punctual. If you ask 'Katera ura je?' and find out you are late, it is polite to apologize immediately with 'Se opravičujem za zamudo'. The 'akademska četrt' means that if a lecture is scheduled for 10:00, it actually starts at 10:15. If you ask the time and it's 10:05, you're still 'on time'. Church bells ring every 15 minutes in many villages. One ring for the first quarter, two for the half-hour, three for the third quarter, and four plus the hour strikes for the full hour. While 'ura' is a loanword, it is considered 100% Slovenian. Purists in the 19th century tried to replace it with 'časomer', but it never caught on.
Add 'Prosim'
Always add 'prosim' (please) at the end to sound much more polite to native speakers.
Don't say 'Kaj je ura?'
This is a very common mistake for English speakers. It sounds very unnatural in Slovenian.
Meaning
Asking for the current time.
Add 'Prosim'
Always add 'prosim' (please) at the end to sound much more polite to native speakers.
Don't say 'Kaj je ura?'
This is a very common mistake for English speakers. It sounds very unnatural in Slovenian.
The 'Already' Trick
Add 'že' (already) to express surprise: 'Katera ura je že?!'
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the question.
_______ ura je?
'Ura' is a feminine noun, so we need the feminine interrogative pronoun 'Katera'.
Fill in the missing verb.
Oprostite, katera ura ___?
We use the third-person singular of 'biti' (to be), which is 'je'.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
A: _________ B: Ura je točno deset.
The answer provides the time, so the question must be asking for the time.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
You are at a train station and your phone is dead. What do you say to a person nearby?
This is the polite way to ask a stranger for the current time.
Match the Slovenian phrase with its English meaning.
1. Katera ura je? 2. Koliko je ura? 3. Ob kateri uri? 4. Ura teče.
These are the most common time-related phrases for beginners.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Time Vocabulary
Parts of the day
- • Jutro
- • Dopoldne
- • Popoldne
- • Večer
Practice Bank
5 exercises_______ ura je?
'Ura' is a feminine noun, so we need the feminine interrogative pronoun 'Katera'.
Oprostite, katera ura ___?
We use the third-person singular of 'biti' (to be), which is 'je'.
A: _________ B: Ura je točno deset.
The answer provides the time, so the question must be asking for the time.
You are at a train station and your phone is dead. What do you say to a person nearby?
This is the polite way to ask a stranger for the current time.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the most common time-related phrases for beginners.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNot necessarily. Both are neutral, but 'Katera ura je?' is the standard form taught in schools and used in media.
Only with very close friends or family, and with a rising intonation. Otherwise, it's too blunt.
You say 'Ura je...' followed by the number. For example: 'Ura je dve' (It is two).
Because 'ura' is a feminine noun, and adjectives/pronouns must agree in gender.
Related Phrases
Koliko je ura?
synonymWhat time is it?
Ob kateri uri?
specialized formAt what time?
Ura bije
similarThe clock is striking
Zmanjkuje mi časa
builds onI am running out of time
Točno kot švicarska ura
similarPunctual as a Swiss watch
