Meaning
Asking for the time informally.
Cultural Background
In Ukraine, the 24-hour clock is used for all official schedules (trains, TV, work), but people almost always use the 12-hour clock in conversation. There is a '15-minute rule' for social meetings. Being exactly on time is great, but being 10-15 minutes late is often socially acceptable. In the capital, life moves fast. People often ask 'Скільки годин?' while walking or in the metro to ensure they catch their connections. In cities like Lviv, you might hear more traditional or Polish-influenced time-telling, but 'Скільки годин?' remains widely understood and used by the youth.
Add 'Зараз'
Adding 'зараз' (now) makes you sound much more like a native speaker: 'Скільки зараз годин?'
Watch the Case
Never say 'Скільки година'. It's a dead giveaway that you're a beginner. Always use the 'n' at the end: 'годин'.
Meaning
Asking for the time informally.
Add 'Зараз'
Adding 'зараз' (now) makes you sound much more like a native speaker: 'Скільки зараз годин?'
Watch the Case
Never say 'Скільки година'. It's a dead giveaway that you're a beginner. Always use the 'n' at the end: 'годин'.
The 12-Hour Rule
Even if your watch says 15:00, when someone asks 'Скільки годин?', answer 'Третя' (Third) instead of 'П'ятнадцята' (Fifteenth).
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the word 'hour' to complete the question.
Скільки зараз _______?
After 'скільки', the Genitive plural 'годин' is required.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural informal phrase.
Олег: Вибач, я забув телефон. ________? Анна: Зараз рівно друга.
'Скільки годин' is the most natural informal way to ask the time in this context.
Match the Ukrainian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
All pairs are correctly matched to their standard translations.
In which situation would you most likely use 'Скільки годин?' instead of 'Котра година?'
Choose the best situation:
'Скільки годин?' is informal and best suited for family and friends.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ways to Ask the Time
Informal
- • Скільки годин?
- • Скільки зараз?
Formal
- • Котра година?
- • Яка зараз година?
Practice Bank
4 exercisesСкільки зараз _______?
After 'скільки', the Genitive plural 'годин' is required.
Олег: Вибач, я забув телефон. ________? Анна: Зараз рівно друга.
'Скільки годин' is the most natural informal way to ask the time in this context.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All pairs are correctly matched to their standard translations.
Choose the best situation:
'Скільки годин?' is informal and best suited for family and friends.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is grammatically correct in spoken Ukrainian, though some formal style guides prefer 'Котра година?'.
It depends on your relationship. If you have a friendly, casual office, yes. If it's a very formal environment, use 'Котра година?'.
Because 'скільки' requires the Genitive plural for countable nouns. 'Годин' is the Genitive plural of 'година'.
It means both! Context tells you which one. If you look at a watch, it's 'What time is it?'. If you're talking about a flight, it's 'How many hours?'.
Yes, it is understood and used from Lviv to Kharkiv, though regional preferences for alternatives might exist.
Usually with an ordinal number: 'Зараз перша', 'Зараз друга', etc.
Yes, it follows the same logic as 'Сколько времени?', which is why some people try to avoid it to sound 'more Ukrainian'.
Say: 'Вибачте, чи не підкажете ви, котра зараз година?'
Only if you are pointing at a watch and the context is very clear, but it's better to say the full phrase.
Yes, they share the same ancient root meaning 'time'.
Related Phrases
Котра година?
similarWhich hour is it?
Зараз
builds onNow
Годинник
specialized formClock/Watch
Вчасно
similarOn time
