Learning to express time and dates in Hebrew is an essential skill for anyone looking to achieve fluency in this ancient yet vibrant language. Being able to accurately talk about days, months, and times can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in both personal and professional settings. In this article, we’ll delve into the various expressions of time and dates in Hebrew, providing you with the tools you need to navigate daily life and conversations with ease.
Days of the Week
The Hebrew week starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday, aligning with the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat). Here are the days of the week in Hebrew:
1. **Sunday** – יום ראשון (Yom Rishon)
2. **Monday** – יום שני (Yom Sheni)
3. **Tuesday** – יום שלישי (Yom Shlishi)
4. **Wednesday** – יום רביעי (Yom Revi’i)
5. **Thursday** – יום חמישי (Yom Chamishi)
6. **Friday** – יום שישי (Yom Shishi)
7. **Saturday** – יום שבת (Yom Shabbat)
It’s important to note that “Yom” means “day” in Hebrew, and each day of the week is sequentially numbered, except for Saturday, which is “Shabbat.”
Months of the Year
Hebrew has two sets of months: the **Gregorian months** and the **Hebrew lunar months**. Let’s cover both:
Gregorian Months
The Gregorian calendar is widely used in Israel for civil purposes. Here are the Gregorian months in Hebrew:
1. **January** – ינואר (Yanua)
2. **February** – פברואר (Februar)
3. **March** – מרץ (Mertz)
4. **April** – אפריל (April)
5. **May** – מאי (Mai)
6. **June** – יוני (Yuni)
7. **July** – יולי (Yuli)
8. **August** – אוגוסט (August)
9. **September** – ספטמבר (September)
10. **October** – אוקטובר (Oktober)
11. **November** – נובמבר (November)
12. **December** – דצמבר (Detsember)
Hebrew Lunar Months
The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar used primarily for Jewish religious purposes. Here are the Hebrew lunar months:
1. **Nisan** – ניסן
2. **Iyar** – אייר
3. **Sivan** – סיון
4. **Tammuz** – תמוז
5. **Av** – אב
6. **Elul** – אלול
7. **Tishrei** – תשרי
8. **Cheshvan** – חשון (or מרחשון Marheshvan)
9. **Kislev** – כסלו
10. **Tevet** – טבת
11. **Shevat** – שבט
12. **Adar** – אדר
In a leap year, an additional month, Adar II (אדר ב), is added.
Telling Time
Telling time in Hebrew involves understanding both the numerical system and specific vocabulary. Here’s a breakdown of how you can tell time:
Hours
The word for hour in Hebrew is שעה (sha’ah), and the word for minute is דקה (dakah). Here is how you can express the hours:
1. **One o’clock** – שעה אחת (sha’ah achat)
2. **Two o’clock** – שעתיים (sha’atayim)
3. **Three o’clock** – שלוש שעות (shalosh sha’ot)
4. **Four o’clock** – ארבע שעות (arba sha’ot)
5. **Five o’clock** – חמש שעות (chamesh sha’ot)
6. **Six o’clock** – שש שעות (shesh sha’ot)
7. **Seven o’clock** – שבע שעות (sheva sha’ot)
8. **Eight o’clock** – שמונה שעות (shmone sha’ot)
9. **Nine o’clock** – תשע שעות (tesha sha’ot)
10. **Ten o’clock** – עשר שעות (eser sha’ot)
11. **Eleven o’clock** – אחת עשרה שעות (achat esreh sha’ot)
12. **Twelve o’clock** – שתים עשרה שעות (shteim esreh sha’ot)
Minutes and Fractions of the Hour
To express minutes, you add the number of minutes to the hour. Here are some examples:
– **One fifteen** – אחת ורבע (achat v’reva)
– **One thirty** – אחת וחצי (achat va’chetsi)
– **One forty-five** – רבע לשתיים (reva l’shtayim)
AM and PM
In Hebrew, the terms for AM and PM are לפני הצהריים (lifnei hatzohorayim) and אחרי הצהריים (acharei hatzohorayim), respectively. However, it is more common to use the 24-hour clock in Israel to avoid confusion.
Common Time Expressions
Here are some common expressions related to time in Hebrew:
– **Now** – עכשיו (achshav)
– **Later** – אחר כך (achar kach)
– **Soon** – בקרוב (b’karov)
– **Yesterday** – אתמול (etmol)
– **Today** – היום (hayom)
– **Tomorrow** – מחר (machar)
– **Morning** – בוקר (boker)
– **Afternoon** – אחרי הצהריים (acharei hatzohorayim)
– **Evening** – ערב (erev)
– **Night** – לילה (layla)
Dates
Writing and saying dates in Hebrew follows a specific format. Typically, the day comes before the month. Here’s how you can express dates:
Writing Dates
When writing dates in Hebrew, the common format is day/month/year. For example, January 15, 2023, would be written as 15/1/2023.
Speaking Dates
When speaking dates, you use ordinal numbers for the day and month. For example:
– **January 15, 2023** – חמשה עשר בינואר אלפיים עשרים ושלוש (chamisha asar b’yanua alpayim esrim v’shalosh)
Here’s a breakdown of the ordinal numbers you would need:
1. **First** – ראשון (rishon)
2. **Second** – שני (sheni)
3. **Third** – שלישי (shlishi)
4. **Fourth** – רביעי (revi’i)
5. **Fifth** – חמישי (chamishi)
6. **Sixth** – שישי (shishi)
7. **Seventh** – שביעי (shevi’i)
8. **Eighth** – שמיני (shmini)
9. **Ninth** – תשיעי (tshi’i)
10. **Tenth** – עשירי (asiri)
…and so on.
Special Days and Holidays
Understanding the expressions of time and dates in Hebrew also means being aware of significant Jewish holidays and special days. Here are a few key holidays and their dates:
– **Passover (Pesach)** – פסח, begins on the 15th of Nisan.
– **Rosh Hashanah** – ראש השנה, Jewish New Year, starts on the 1st of Tishrei.
– **Yom Kippur** – יום כיפור, the Day of Atonement, on the 10th of Tishrei.
– **Hanukkah** – חנוכה, starts on the 25th of Kislev.
– **Purim** – פורים, on the 14th of Adar.
Practice Makes Perfect
To truly master the expressions of time and dates in Hebrew, it’s essential to practice regularly. Engage in conversations, write down dates, and use the vocabulary in your daily life. Here are a few tips to help you practice:
1. **Use a Hebrew Calendar:** Switch your calendar app to Hebrew settings or get a physical Hebrew calendar.
2. **Set Reminders in Hebrew:** Use your phone to set reminders in Hebrew for various activities.
3. **Engage in Conversations:** Try to discuss your schedule or make plans with friends in Hebrew.
4. **Watch Hebrew Content:** Tune into Hebrew TV shows, news, or podcasts and pay attention to how time and dates are mentioned.
Conclusion
Mastering the expressions of time and dates in Hebrew is a crucial step in your language learning journey. Whether you’re discussing your plans for the weekend, setting up meetings, or celebrating holidays, being able to accurately express time and dates will greatly enhance your communication skills. With regular practice and immersion, you’ll soon find yourself navigating these expressions with confidence and ease. Happy learning!
