Time telling in Swahili

When it comes to telling time, Swahili has its own ways which are different from that of English language. Note that, 

• In Swahili, 24 hours have been divided into two groups: 12 in a day and 12 in the night
• Hours are counted from 7am to 18pm (during a day), and are being counted again from 19pm to 6am (during night). 
• When telling time, we normally add a word that describes whether that hour is during the night or in a day. 
• For instance, in a day, we add asubuhi (morning), Mchana (noon/afternoon) and jioni (evening). During the night we use usiku (night).
• NB: In Swahili culture, the mchana (noon and/or afternoon) is from 12pm to 14:59pm. Also, the period between 15pm to 15:59pm is called alasiri. Still don`t get confused, just take the asubuhi (morning), mchana (noon/afternoon), jioni (evening) and usiku (night). 
• In writings, we write as it is because in Swahili words are being pronounced as they are written. 
• The word saa has several meanings depending on the context. it may mean a watch or an hour. But in this context, the word saa means an hour. Also, about counting from moja (1), mbili (2) ... refer to lesson 10.

During a day (Wakati wa Mchana)

1. Saa moja asubuhi (1:00) - 7:00am
2. saa mbili asubuhi (2.00) - 8:00am
3. saa tatu asubuhi (3:00) - 9:00am
4. saa nne asubuhi (4:00) - 10:00am
5. saa tano asubuhi (5:00) - 11:00am
6. saa sita mchana (6:00) - 12:00pm
7. saa saba mchana (7:00) - 13:00pm
8. saa nane mchana (8:00) - 14:00pm
9. saa tisa alasiri (9:00) - 15:00pm
10. saa kumi jioni (10:00) - 16:00pm
11. saa kumi na moja jioni (11:00) - 17:00pm
12. saa kumi na mbili jioni (12:00) - 18:00pm

During the night (wakati wa usiku)

1. saa moja usiku (1:00) - 19:00pm
2. saa mbili usiku (2:00) - 20:00pm
3. saa tatu usiku (3:00) - 21:00pm
4. saa nne usiku (4:00) - 22:00pm
5. saa tano usiku (5:00) - 23:00pm
6. saa sita usiku (6:00) - 00:00am
7. saa saba usiku (7:00) - 1:00am
8. saa nane usiku (8:00) - 2:00am
9. saa tisa usiku (9:00) - 3:00am
10. saa kumi alfajiri (10:00) - 4:00am
11. saa kumi na moja alfajiri (11:00) - 5:00am
12. saa kumi na mbili asubuhi (12:00) - 6:00am

Telling an hour and its minutes (Kusoma saa na dakika zake)

(NB: the word kamili in this context means O`clock, dakika means minute(s))

1. saa moja kamili (during a day or night) - 7:00am
2. saa moja na dakika moja - 7:01am
3. saa moja na dakika mbili - 7:02am
4. saa moja na dakika tatu - 7:03am
5. saa moja na dakika nne - 7:04am
6. saa moja na dakika tano - 7:05am
7. saa moja na dakika sita - 7:06am
8. saa moja na dakika saba - 7:07am
9. saa moja na dakika nane - 7:08am
10. saa moja na dakika tisa - 7:09am
11. saa moja na dakika kumi - 7:10am
12. saa moja na dakika kumi na moja - 7:11am
13. saa moja na dakika kumi na mbili - 7:12am
14. saa moja na dakika kumi na tatu - 7:13am
15. saa moja na dakika kumi na nne - 7:14am
16. saa moja na dakika kumi na tano (saa moja na robo(robo = quater) - 7:15am 
17. saa moja na dakika kumi na sita - 7:16am
18. saa moja na dakika kumi na saba.... - 7:17am
19. saa moja na dakika ishirini ... 7:20am
20. saa moja na dakika thelathini (saa moja na nusu (nusu = half)) - 7:30am 
21. saa moja na dakika arobaini - 7:40am
22. saa moja na dakika hamsini - 7:50am
23. saa mbili kamili - 8:00am
24. saa mbili na dakika moja.... - 8:01am

When it is already 31 minutes, meaning that, 29 minutes to a certain hour, from there you can use a word kasoro like in the following:

1. saa mbili kasoro tatu (1:57) - 7:57am
2. saa nne kasoro robo (3:45) - 9:45am
3. saa tato kasoro kumi (4:500 - 10:50am
4. saa sita kasoro tano - (5:55) - 11:55am
5. saa saba kasoro ishirini (6:40) - 12:40pm......

Asking about time 

1. saa ngapi - what is the time?
2. hivi sasa ni saa ngapi - what the time is now?
3. tafadhali, hivi sasa ni saa ngapi - Please, what is the time?

Time telling in conversation 

Juma: Baba atakuja saa ngapi - when the father will come?

Asha: Atakuja saa kumi jioni - he will come at 16pm

Juma: Na mama je?

Asha: Mama atakuja saa mbili asubihi - Mother will come at 8am

Juma: Utaenda saa ngapi shuleni - when will you go to school?

Asha: Nitaenda saa moja asubuhi - I`ll go at 7am

Juma: sawa, asante - okay, thanks!

Asha: asante, kwa heri - thanks, goodbye.

Exercise (zoezi)

Can you tell the time in the following in Swahili? Please, practice yourself gradually, you will come to understand. If not, for further help, please contact me through haulejacob@yahoo.com or whatsapp 0758977510:

1

2

3

4

Are you having any difficulties? If yes, leave a comment or email me on haulejacob@yahoo.com