When talking about oras, it's pretty straightforward. You can use it to ask "Anong oras na?" which means "What time is it?"
It also functions like the English word "hour." So if you want to say "two hours," you'd say "dalawang oras."
And if you're talking about a specific time, you can say "Alas tres ng hapon" for "3 o'clock in the afternoon." That's not using oras directly, but it's good to know for telling time!
Basically, oras is your go-to for anything related to time or hours.
When talking about a specific time, you would use "alas" before the number, such as "Alas otso" for eight o'clock. For duration or general time, you would use "oras."
For example, if you want to say "What time is it?" you would say "Anong oras na?" And to ask "How many hours?" you would say "Ilang oras?"
The word "oras" can also be used to refer to a specific hour or period of time, like "Oras ng trabaho" for work hours.
It's important to remember that Tagalog often uses numbers in their Spanish-derived forms when telling time, which is why you hear "alas dose" for twelve o'clock.
Grammar to Know
Unlike in English where 'time' can be abstract or specific, 'oras' usually refers to clock time or a duration.
Anong oras na? (What time is it?)
To ask 'how many hours,' you say 'ilang oras.'
Ilang oras ang biyahe? (How many hours is the trip?)
To specify a certain time, you use 'ng' after the number.
Alas tres ng umaga (Three o'clock in the morning)
To say 'at a specific time,' you use 'sa oras.'
Magkita tayo sa oras ng tanghalian. (Let's meet at lunchtime.)
When talking about 'time' in a general sense, like 'pastime' or 'free time,' you might use 'panahon' instead of 'oras.'
Maraming panahon ako ngayon. (I have a lot of time now.)
Examples by Level
Anong oras na?
What time is it?
A common question to ask for the current time.
Kailangan nating umalis sa tamang oras.
We need to leave on time.
'Tamang oras' means 'on time' or 'the right time'.
Gaano katagal ang byahe? Mga dalawang oras.
How long is the trip? About two hours.
'Gaano katagal' means 'how long' (referring to duration).
Mayroon akong libreng oras bukas.
I have free time tomorrow.
'Libreng oras' means 'free time'.
Sinisikap kong mag-aral ng Tagalog ng isang oras bawat araw.
I try to study Tagalog for one hour every day.
'Bawat araw' means 'every day'.
Ang oras ay ginto, kaya gamitin mo nang maayos.
Time is gold, so use it well.
A common Filipino saying emphasizing the value of time.
Dumating siya ng alas-siete ng gabi.
He arrived at seven o'clock in the evening.
'Alas-siete' means 'seven o'clock'.
Sa paglipas ng oras, mas naiintindihan ko na siya.
As time passes, I understand him better.
'Sa paglipas ng oras' means 'as time passes' or 'over time'.
Ang oras ay ginto, kaya't gamitin ito nang matalino para sa iyong kinabukasan.
Time is gold, so use it wisely for your future.
This idiomatic expression emphasizes the value of time. 'Nang matalino' means 'wisely'.
Sa paglipas ng oras, natutunan kong pahalagahan ang bawat sandali kasama ang aking pamilya at mga kaibigan.
As time passes, I learned to appreciate every moment with my family and friends.
'Sa paglipas ng oras' means 'as time passes' or 'over time'. 'Pahalagahan' means 'to appreciate'.
Kahit anong oras ka dumating, palagi kang malugod na tatanggapin sa aming tahanan.
No matter what time you arrive, you will always be warmly welcomed in our home.
'Kahit anong oras' means 'anytime' or 'no matter what time'. 'Malugod na tatanggapin' means 'warmly welcomed'.
Mahirap hulaan kung anong oras matatapos ang proyekto dahil sa dami ng mga salik na kailangan isaalang-alang.
It's difficult to predict what time the project will finish due to the many factors that need to be considered.
'Hulaan' means 'to predict'. 'Mga salik na kailangan isaalang-alang' means 'factors that need to be considered'.
Bigyan mo ako ng isang oras para tapusin ang aking trabaho, pagkatapos ay puwede na tayong umalis.
Give me one hour to finish my work, then we can leave.
'Bigyan mo ako' means 'give me'. 'Puwede na tayong umalis' means 'we can leave now'.
Wala kaming sapat na oras para tapusin ang lahat ng gawain bago ang deadline.
We don't have enough time to finish all the tasks before the deadline.
'Wala kaming sapat na oras' means 'we don't have enough time'. 'Lahat ng gawain' means 'all the tasks'.
Ang pag-aaral ng bagong wika ay nangangailangan ng dedikasyon at maraming oras.
Learning a new language requires dedication and a lot of time.
'Nangangailangan' means 'requires'. 'Maraming oras' means 'a lot of time'.
Kung mayroon ka pang oras mamaya, gusto mo bang samahan ako sa isang tasa ng kape?
If you still have time later, would you like to join me for a cup of coffee?
'Kung mayroon ka pang oras' means 'if you still have time'. 'Samahan ako' means 'join me'.
Test Yourself 12 questions
Anong ___ ngayon?
The question asks 'What time is it now?', so 'oras' (time/hour) is the correct word.
Kailangan nating umalis sa loob ng isang ___.
The sentence means 'We need to leave within an hour.' 'Oras' can also mean 'hour'.
Wala akong ___ para diyan.
This translates to 'I don't have time for that.' 'Oras' fits the meaning of 'time'.
Gaano katagal ang biyahe? Mga dalawang ___.
The question asks 'How long is the trip?' and the answer 'About two hours' uses 'oras'.
Saang ___ ka ba pupunta?
While 'oras' can mean 'time', in this context, it refers to a specific time, as in 'At what time are you going?'
Ang ___ ng tanghalian ay alas dose.
The sentence means 'Lunch time is at twelve o'clock.' 'Oras' refers to the specific time.
This is the common way to ask 'What time is it now?' in Tagalog. 'Anong' means 'What', 'oras' means 'time', 'na' is a particle indicating 'already' or 'now', and 'ngayon' means 'now'.
The sentence translates to 'I have many things to do during the day now.' 'Maraming' means 'many', 'ginagawa' means 'things to do', 'ako' means 'I', 'sa' means 'in/on/at', 'oras' means 'time', 'ng' is a linker, and 'araw' means 'day'. 'Ngayon' means 'now'.
This means 'He/She arrived at the wrong time.' 'Dumating' is 'arrived', 'siya' is 'he/she', 'sa' is 'at', 'hindi' is 'not', 'tamang' is 'correct/right', and 'oras' is 'time'.
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
