Want some insight into the locals’ common words to describe date and time in Irish? Then this blog is perfect for you! In this post, we will walk you through the easy ways by which you can tell the date and time like a natural native speaker through our complete list of words, phrases, and expressions below. If you are ready to impress the locals, please continue reading below.
Time Zone Of Ireland
Ireland follows the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) timezone. This is also the time zone that most people follow universally to tell the time. Culturally, being late, especially for formal events, is frowned upon by the locals. Fortunately, you can always use a time zone converter online or look for apps to gauge the time difference.
Telling Time In Irish
There are different ways: specific words and phrases to ask and tell the time in the Irish language.
Clock Numbers In Irish
Let’s start with the numbers. There are 24 hours in a day. But on the clock, we can see 12 numbers only. Here is a list of all the 12 numbers for you to learn and use while telling what hour it is:
| Irish Numbers | Arabic Numbers | English Translation |
| A haon | 1 | One |
| A dó | 2 | Two |
| A trí | 3 | Three |
| A ceathair | 4 | Four |
| A cúig | 5 | Five |
| A sé | 6 | Six |
| A seacht | 7 | Seven |
| A hocht | 8 | Eight |
| A naoi | 9 | Nine |
| A deich | 10 | Ten |
| A haon déag | 11 | Eleven |
| A dó dhéag | 12 | Twelve |
For learning more numbers, feel free to check out a complete guide Irish Numbers by Ling App.
Expressing Time
The word for an hour in Irish is “uair an chloig,” a minute is “nóiméad” and seconds is “soicindí.”
To tell about the time of something (a process or an action), you should say Number for hours+ uair +Number for minutes+ nóiméad agus +Number for Seconds+ soicind. For instance, one hour 20 minutes and 20 seconds will be 1 uair 20 nóiméad agus 30 soicind.
Time In Hours
To tell the time using a number with o’clock, you can say Number+A Chlog. For example, three o’clock would be “Triúr A Chlog”. Similarly, you can use this basic formation to tell time with all the numbers.
Time In Minutes
If you want to tell the time using both minutes and hours. Use “tar éis” which means after or past in English.
The basic formation for minutes would be “Number + tar éis + Number” For instance, “Ceann+ tar éis + ocht” should be used to say eight past 1 (1:08). Easy, right?
Okay, the next comes a half and a quarter. You should use “Leath” to say half and “Ceathrú” to say a quarter. For instance, to say half-past (a number), you can use “leath tar éis + number.“
| Basic Expressions In Irish | English Translations |
| What time is it right now? | Cén t-am é anois? |
| It is 3 ‘o clock right now. | Tá sé 3 a chlog faoi láthair. |
| What day is it today? | Cén lá é inniu? |
| It is Tuesday today | Is é Dé Máirt inniu é |
| What date is it today? | Cén dáta atá ann inniu? |
| It is 4 January 2022 today. | Is é 4 Eanáir 2022 inniu. |
| What is the local time of Dublin? | Cén t-am áitiúil i mBaile Átha Cliath? |
| What will be the weather of Ireland on 4 January 2022? | Cén aimsir a bheidh in Éirinn an 4 Eanáir 2022? |
| How much time will it take to reach that location? | Cé mhéad ama a thógfaidh sé chun an áit sin a bhaint amach? |
| It will take 3 days and 5 hours. | Tógfaidh sé 3 lá agus 5 uair an chloig. |
| When will you come to Dublin? | Cathain a thiocfaidh tú go Baile Átha Cliath? |
| I’ll come to Dublin on 3rd March. | Tiocfaidh mé go Baile Átha Cliath ar an 3ú Márta. |
| People used to look at the sun to tell time. | Ba ghnách le daoine féachaint ar an ngrian chun am a insint. |
| How many locations can I visit in Ireland in 5 hours? | Cé mhéad áit ar féidir liom cuairt a thabhairt orthu in Éirinn i gceann 5 uair an chloig? |
| Is it written as January 4, 2022, or the 4th of January 2022 in Ireland? | An bhfuil sé scríofa mar 4 Eanáir 2022 nó 4 Eanáir 2022 in Éirinn? |
Date In Irish
To tell the date in Irish, you can simply add Number+month in Irish. Same as English, right? For instance, to say the 3rd of January, you can say “3 Eanáir”. To tell the dates in Irish, you must know numbers till 31 at least.
Days Of The Week In Irish
The word for a day in Irish is “lá,” and its plural is “laethanta.” A quick list for you to memorize all the days without any fuss:
| Irish Words | English Translation |
| Dé Luain | Monday |
| Dé Máirt | Tuesday |
| Dé Céadaoin | Wednesday |
| Déardaoin | Thursday |
| Dé hAoine | Friday |
| Dé Sathairn | Saturday |
| Dé Domhnaigh | Sunday |
Months In Irish
The word for a month in Irish is “mhí,” and its plural is “míonna.” A quick list for all the months:
| Irish Words | English Translation |
| Eanáir | January |
| Feabhra | February |
| Márta | March |
| Aibreán | April |
| Bealtaine | May |
| Meitheamh | June |
| Lúil | July |
| Lúnasa | August |
| Meán Fómhair | September |
| Deireadh Fómhair | October |
| Samhain | November |
| Nollaig | December |
Easy Words Related To Date And Time In Irish
To form the sentences and make phrases in Irish, you must know the basic vocabulary about date and time. Here is a list of all the basic Irish words about time. Try to use these and make sentences to practice your Irish language.
| Irish Words | English Translation |
| Tar Éis | After |
| Solas An Lae | Daylight |
| Am Codlata | Bedtime |
| Clog Aláraim | Alarm Clock |
| Haois | Century |
| Tráthnóna | Afternoon |
| Deich Mbliana | Decade |
| Clog | Bell |
| Croineolaíocht | Chronology |
| Ina Dhiaidh Sin | Afterward |
| Solas An Lae | Daylight |
| Laethanta Na Seachtaine | Days Of The Week |
| Bliantúil | Annual |
| Moill | Delay |
| Am Ar Bith | Anytime |
| Bliain Féilire | Calendar Year |
| Roimh | Before |
| Clog Digiteach | Digital Clock |
| Clog | Clock |
| Belated | Belated |
| Go Luath | Early |
| Roimh Ré | Before Hand |
| Coicís | Fortnight |
| Meán-Am Greenwich | Greenwich Mean Time |
| Tráthnóna | Evening |
| Aghaidh Clog | Clock Face |
| Meánlae | High Noon |
| Cróiméadar | Chronometer |
| Uairghloine | Hourglass |
| Líne Dáta Idirnáisiúnta | International Date Line |
| Gach Lá | Everyday |
| Fhadlíne | Meridian |
| In Am | On-Time |
| Faire | Watch |
| Uaireadóir Póca | Pocket Watch |
| Faire Láimhe | Wristwatch |
| Thar Am | Overtime |
| Micreathonn | Microsecond |
| Anois | Now |
| Clog Uisce | Water Clock |
| Meán Oíche | Midnight |
| Sundial | Sundial |
| Nóiméad Nóiméad | Minute Hand |
| Dara Láimhe | Second Hand |
| Lár Na Maidine | Midmorning |
| Crios Ama | Time Zone |
| Caite | Past |
| I Láthair | Present |
| Tráthnóna | Twilight |
| Meán Oíche Tráthnóna | Midafternoon |
| Inné | Yesterday |
| An Lae Inné | Yesteryear |
| Oíche | Nighttime |
| A Chlog | O’clock |
| Meán Lae | Noon |
| Mílaois | Millennium |
| Clog Luascadáin | Pendulum Clock |
| Oíche | Night |
| Sceideal | Schedule |
| Amchlár | Timetable |
| Séasúr | Season |
| Inniu | Today |
| Amárach | Tomorrow |
| Anocht | Tonight |
| Tardy | Tardy |
| Léim Sa Dara Háit | Leap Second |
| Bliain Leap | Leap Year |
| Mí Gealaí | Lunar Month |
| Milleasoicind | Millisecond |
| Nóiméad | Minute |
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, by now, you can tell the time in the Irish language. If you liked this blog, then feel free to have a look at our other blogs. We also have a similar blog about calendar lists in Irish and numbers in Irish.
Want to have more lessons in Irish? The Ling App by Simya Solutions is at your service! Ling App offers creative tools you can use to learn not just Irish but 60+ other languages! Learn more about it here. Happy Learning!
