Czech Time & Days: kolik je hodin, v pondělí, v půl osmé
The A1 checkpoint: clocks, calendars, and one legendary trap that has made foreigners an hour early (or late) for a century.
What Time Is It?
Kolik je hodin? The answer counts hours with the koruna rule from the money lesson:
| Time | Czech |
|---|---|
| 1:00 | Je jedna hodina. |
| 2:00–4:00 | Jsou dvě / tři / čtyři hodiny. |
| 5:00+ | Je pět hodin. Je deset hodin. |
Note even the verb plays along: je jedna, jsou dvě, je pět.
At What Time?
V kolik? — at what time? V sedm — at seven. And the trap: v půl osmé — at half past SEVEN. Czech says "half of the eighth hour" — the half belongs to the hour that's coming, not the one that's gone.
Sejdeme se v půl sedmé.
We'll meet at half past six.
Note: půl sedmé — half of the seventh hour — 6:30.
The Days
pondělí, úterý, středa, čtvrtek, pátek, sobota, neděle. "On" a day = v + accusative: v pondělí, ve středu (v grows its e), v sobotu.
V sobotu jedu do Brna. V neděli jsem u babičky.
On Saturday I'm going to Brno. On Sunday I'm at grandma's.
Note: The Czech weekend in two cases: do Brna (gen), u babičky (gen).
Parts of the Day
ráno (morning), dopoledne (before noon), odpoledne (afternoon), večer (evening), v noci (at night). And the axis: včera — dnes — zítra, yesterday — today — tomorrow.
V kolik máš zítra školu?
What time do you have school tomorrow?
V půl deváté. Proč?
At half past eight. Why?
Večer je koncert. Chceš jít?
There's a concert in the evening. Want to come?
Jo! V kolik? V sedm?
Yeah! What time? Seven?
Common Mistakes
- půl osmé = 8:30. No — 7:30. The half looks forward.
- Je dvě hodiny. Two to four take jsou: jsou dvě hodiny.
- na pondělí for "on Monday". Days take v + accusative: v pondělí.
What You Can Do Now
You can tell the time (halves included), plan a week day by day, and schedule a meeting nobody misses — the everyday-life checkpoint is yours. Chapter 3 takes you out into the city.