Learning to describe time and dates is a fundamental aspect of mastering any language. In this article, we will delve into how to describe time and dates in Azerbaijani, a Turkic language spoken primarily in Azerbaijan. Whether you’re planning to visit Azerbaijan, communicate with Azerbaijani speakers, or simply expand your linguistic repertoire, this guide will equip you with the necessary vocabulary and expressions.
The Azerbaijani Calendar and Days of the Week
A good starting point for understanding how to talk about dates in Azerbaijani is to familiarize yourself with the Azerbaijani calendar and the days of the week. The Azerbaijani week starts on Monday, similar to the international standard.
Here are the days of the week in Azerbaijani:
– Monday: Bazar ertəsi
– Tuesday: Çərşənbə axşamı
– Wednesday: Çərşənbə
– Thursday: Cümə axşamı
– Friday: Cümə
– Saturday: Şənbə
– Sunday: Bazar günü
Notice the similarity between “Cümə” (Friday) and “Cümə axşamı” (Thursday). This might help you remember that “axşamı” means “evening” or “eve,” indicating the day before Friday.
Months of the Year
Next, let’s look at the months of the year. Azerbaijani uses a calendar system similar to the Gregorian calendar, so the months will look familiar, though their names are different:
– January: Yanvar
– February: Fevral
– March: Mart
– April: Aprel
– May: May
– June: İyun
– July: İyul
– August: Avqust
– September: Sentyabr
– October: Oktyabr
– November: Noyabr
– December: Dekabr
These names are quite similar to their English counterparts, making them easier to remember.
Describing Dates
When describing dates in Azerbaijani, the format is generally day-month-year. For example, January 1, 2023, would be written as 1 Yanvar 2023.
To say the date in a sentence, you could use the following structure:
– “Bu gün ayın biridir.” (Today is the first of the month.)
– “Bu gün 1 Yanvardır.” (Today is January 1st.)
If you want to be specific about a particular date, you can say:
– “Mənim ad günüm 15 Martdır.” (My birthday is March 15th.)
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are essential when talking about dates. Here are the first ten ordinal numbers in Azerbaijani:
1. Birinci
2. İkinci
3. Üçüncü
4. Dördüncü
5. Beşinci
6. Altıncı
7. Yeddinci
8. Səkkizinci
9. Doqquzuncu
10. Onuncu
For example, to say “March 3rd,” you could say “Martın üçüncü günü.”
Telling Time
Describing time is another crucial skill. Let’s start with the basics of how to tell time in Azerbaijani.
Hours
The word for “hour” is saat. To say what time it is, you use the following structure:
– “Saat neçədədir?” (What time is it?)
– “Saat dörddədir.” (It is four o’clock.)
Here are the numbers 1 to 12 in Azerbaijani:
1. Bir
2. İki
3. Üç
4. Dörd
5. Beş
6. Altı
7. Yeddi
8. Səkkiz
9. Doqquz
10. On
11. On bir
12. On iki
Minutes
When it comes to minutes, you simply add the number of minutes after the hour. For instance:
– “Saat beşi on beş dəqiqə keçir.” (It is 5:15.)
– “Saat altıya iyirmi dəqiqə var.” (It is 20 minutes to 6.)
In Azerbaijani, “dəqiqə” means “minute,” and “keçir” means “past,” while “var” means “to.”
Half and Quarter Hours
To express half and quarter hours, you use the words “yarım” (half) and “rüb” (quarter).
– “Saat üç yarımdır.” (It is 3:30.)
– “Saat beşi rüb keçir.” (It is a quarter past 5.)
– “Saat altıya rüb var.” (It is a quarter to 6.)
Periods of the Day
To specify the time of day, you can use the following terms:
– Morning: səhər
– Afternoon: günorta
– Evening: axşam
– Night: gecə
For example:
– “Saat səhər səkkizdədir.” (It is 8:00 in the morning.)
– “Saat gecə on birdədir.” (It is 11:00 at night.)
Common Phrases Related to Time
Here are some common phrases that will help you talk about time more fluently:
– “Nə vaxt?” (When?)
– “Bu gün” (Today)
– “Sabah” (Tomorrow)
– “Dünən” (Yesterday)
– “İndi” (Now)
– “Sonra” (Later)
– “Tezliklə” (Soon)
– “Həftə” (Week)
– “Ay” (Month)
– “İl” (Year)
Practical Usage: Conversational Examples
Let’s take a look at some practical conversational examples to see how all these elements come together.
Example 1: Making an Appointment
– A: “Sabah saat neçədir?” (What time is it tomorrow?)
– B: “Sabah saat on ikidədir.” (It is at 12:00 tomorrow.)
Example 2: Discussing a Birthday
– A: “Sənin ad günün nə vaxtdır?” (When is your birthday?)
– B: “Mənim ad günüm 15 Martdır.” (My birthday is March 15th.)
Example 3: Talking About Daily Routine
– A: “Sən saat neçədə işə gedirsən?” (What time do you go to work?)
– B: “Mən saat səkkizdə işə gedirəm.” (I go to work at 8:00.)
Conclusion
Mastering how to describe time and dates in Azerbaijani is an essential step in becoming fluent in the language. By familiarizing yourself with the days of the week, months of the year, and the nuances of telling time, you’ll be well-equipped to handle everyday conversations and more complex discussions. Practice regularly, and don’t hesitate to use these expressions in real-life situations to reinforce your learning. Happy studying!
