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Understanding how to express and discuss time and dates in Catalan is crucial for scheduling appointments, making plans, and engaging in everyday conversations. In this chapter, we will delve into the vocabulary and phrases related to time and dates, allowing you to navigate temporal discussions with ease.

Telling Time:

Let’s begin by learning how to tell time in Catalan. The following phrases will help you express different aspects of time:

«Quina hora és?» (What time is it?): Use this question to inquire about the current time.

«És l’una» (It is one o’clock): Use this phrase to indicate the exact hour when the minute hand is on the 12.

«És la una en punt» (It is exactly one o’clock): This phrase emphasizes that it is exactly one o’clock with no minutes.

«És la una i quart» (It is a quarter past one): Use this phrase when the minute hand is at the 3, indicating 15 minutes past the hour.

«És la una i mitja» (It is half past one): This phrase signifies that it is half an hour past one.

«És la una menys quart» (It is a quarter to one): Use this phrase when the minute hand is at the 9, indicating 15 minutes to the next hour.

«És la una i vint» (It is twenty past one): This phrase indicates 20 minutes past the hour.

«És la una i cinquanta-cinc» (It is fifty-five minutes past one): Use this phrase to express that it is five minutes to the next hour.

«És migdia» (It is noon): Use this phrase to denote that it is 12:00 PM.

«És mitjanit» (It is midnight): This phrase signifies that it is 12:00 AM.

Phrases with Time:

Here are some additional phrases incorporating time:

«A quina hora comença la reunió?» (What time does the meeting start?): Use this question to inquire about the starting time of an event.

«Tenim una cita a les quatre de la tarda» (We have an appointment at four in the afternoon): Use this sentence to communicate a scheduled appointment time.

«Podem quedar a les set del vespre?» (Can we meet at seven in the evening?): Use this phrase to suggest a meeting time.

Days, Months, and Years:

When discussing specific dates in Catalan, you can use the following format:

[Day] de [Month] de [Year]: For example, «10 de juny de 2023» (June 10th, 2023) or «25 de desembre de 2022» (December 25th, 2022).

To refer to the current year, you can say «enguany» (this year). For example, «L’any passat» (last year) or «L’any que ve» (next year).

Expressing Dates:

To express dates in Catalan, you can use phrases such as:

«Avui és el 5 de gener» (Today is January 5th): Use this phrase to indicate the current date.

«El meu aniversari és el 18 d’agost» (My birthday is on August 18th): Use this sentence to communicate your birthday.

«La conferència serà el 3 de juliol» (The conference will be on July 3rd): Use this phrase to denote a specific date for an event or activity.

Duration and Time Periods:

To talk about the duration of time or time periods, you can use the following expressions:

«Durant un any» (For one year): Use this phrase to discuss a time period of one year.

«Des de les tres fins a les cinc» (From three to five): Use this phrase to indicate a time span between three o’clock and five o’clock.

«Per dues hores» (For two hours): Use this expression to talk about a duration of two hours.

Additional Phrases:

Here are a few more phrases related to time and dates:

«Quan et ve de gust quedar?» (When are you available to meet?): Use this question when arranging a meeting time.

«Quin dia de la setmana és avui?» (What day of the week is it today?): Use this phrase to inquire about the current day.

«Quin mes preferiu per al viatge?» (Which month do you prefer for the trip?): Use this question to discuss preferred months for a trip.

Holidays and Festivals:

Catalonia celebrates various holidays and festivals throughout the year. Some notable examples include:

«Diada de Sant Jordi» (St. George’s Day): Celebrated on April 23rd, it is a day to honor Catalonia’s patron saint, featuring the exchange of roses and books.

«La Diada Nacional de Catalunya» (National Day of Catalonia): Celebrated on September 11th, it commemorates Catalonia’s national identity and history.

Exploring these cultural events will not only enhance your language skills but also provide valuable insights into Catalan traditions and customs.

By familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary and phrases related to time and dates in Catalan, you will gain confidence in scheduling appointments, making plans, and engaging in temporal discussions. Practice using these phrases in practical situations and immerse yourself in the local culture to deepen your understanding of time-related concepts.