ᎯᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵᏒ? “What time is it?” / Cherokee Lessons

To ask what time it is, you either ask “how much time has progressed” or “how many times the clock has struck in hours”.

ᎯᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵᏒ?
[hị²la⁴ a¹hlị³ɂị²li²³sv] “What time is it?” - How much is the progression of time? Primarily used in Western speech.
ᎲᎦ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸᎢ?
[hṿ²ga⁴ ị²yụ³wa²hnị²lv⁴ɂi]? “What time is it?” - How many times has it struck? Primarily used in Eastern speech.

Both clocks and watches are referred to by the word “ᏩᏥ” which is an import of the English word “watch”. A clock is referred to as a “big watch” sometimes.

ᏩᏥ
[wa²³ji] “A clock. A watch.”

The following vocabulary is used when stating time:

ᎠᏟᎢᎵᏒᎢ, ᎠᏟᎢᎵ
[a¹hlị³ɂị²li²³sv⁴ɂi, a¹hlị³ɂị²li] “A progression of time.” - ᎥᏍᏊ ᎯᎪᏩᏔ: ᎠᏟᎢᎵᏙᎭ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏟᎶᎠ.
- ᏓᏟᎢᎵᏒᎢ, ᏓᏟᎢᎵ
  [da¹hlị³ɂị²li²³sv⁴ɂi, da¹hlị³ɂị²li] “Progressions of time.” - Used when referring to multiple times.
ᎠᏰᏟ
[ạ²ye⁴hli] “Center. Middle. Half.”
ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅᎢ
[ị²yạ³tạ²hwo¹stạ²nv⁴ɂi] “A minute. Minutes.”
ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸᎢ
[ị²yụ³wa²hnị²lv⁴ɂi] “O’clock. An hour.” - It has struck. Refers to the chimes many clocks make at the top of the hour.
ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ
[u²lo²sv⁴sdi] “Past.” - Used to indicate minutes past the top of the hour before the mid-hour. ᎥᏍᏊ ᎯᎪᏩᏔ: ᎦᎶᏍᎦ.
ᎤᏓᎷᎳ
[u²da²lu²³la⁴] “It lacks.” - Used to indicate minutes before the next hour after the current mid-hour. ᎥᏍᏊ ᎯᎪᏩᏔ: ᎦᎷᎶᎦ.
ᎩᏄᏘᏗ
[gi²nu⁴tdi] “A quarter. One fourth.” - Used at 15 minutes after and 15 minutes before the hour. Not all dialects use this word when telling time.
ᏑᎾᎴᎢ, ᏏᎾᎴᎢ, ᏒᎾᎴᎢ
[sụ²na³le⁴ɂi, sị²na³le⁴ɂi, sṿ²na³le⁴ɂi] “Tomorrow. Morning.” - Used to refer to the “A.M”.
ᏒᎯᏰᏱ
[sv²hị²ye⁴yi] “In the evening.” - Used to refer to the “P.M.”.

The following examples demonstrate the most common forms for telling time:

When it is “at the top of the hour” you say “Some count of strikes.” or “Some count progression of time.”
- 9:00 - “It is nine o’clock.”
  - ᏐᏁᎳ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Nine strikes.
  - ᏐᏁᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Nine is the progression of time.
  - ᏐᏁᎳ. - It is nine.
- 6:00 - “It is six o’clock.”
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Six strikes.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Six is the progression of time.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ. - It is six.
- 4:00 A.M. - It is four o’clock in the morning.”
  - ᏅᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᏑᎾᎴ. - Four strikes in the morning.
  - ᏅᎩ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ ᏑᎾᎴ. - Four is the progression of time in the morning.
  - ᏅᎩ ᏑᎾᎴ. - Four in the morning. Four a.m.
- 2:00 P.M. - “It is two o’clock in the afternoon.”
  - ᏔᎵ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Two strikes in the evening.
  - ᏔᎵ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Two is the progression of time in the evening.
  - ᏔᎵ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Two in the evening. Two p.m.
- 7:00 P.M. - “It is seven o’clock in the evening.”
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Seven strikes in the evening.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Seven is the progression of time in the evening.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Seven in the evening. Seven p.m.
When it is “at the bottom of the hour” you say Some count of strikes mid-way.” or “Some count and a half progression of time.”
- 1:30 - “It is half-past one o’clock.”
  - ᏌᏊ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎠᏰᏟ. - One strike and a half.
  - ᏌᏊ ᎠᏰᏟ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - One and a half progression of time.
  - ᏌᏊ ᎠᏰᏟ. - One and a half. (Same as saying “one-thirty” in English.)
- 7:30 - “It is half-past seven o’clock.”
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎠᏰᏟ. - Seven strikes and a half.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎠᏰᏟ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Seven and a half progression of time.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎠᏰᏟ. - Seven and a half. (Same as saying “seven-thirty” in English).
- 6:30 am - “It is half-past six o’clock am.”
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎠᏰᏟ ᏑᎾᎴ. - Six strikes and a half in the morning.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎠᏰᏟ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ ᏑᎾᎴ. - Six and a half progression of time in the morning.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎠᏰᏟ ᏑᎾᎴ. - Six and a half in the morning. (Same as saying “six-thirty am” in English).
- 5:30 pm - “It is half-past five o’clock pm.”
  - ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ ᎠᏰᏟ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Five strikes and a half in the evening.
  - ᎯᏍᎩ ᎠᏰᏟ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Five and a half progression of time in the evening.
  - ᎯᏍᎩ ᎠᏰᏟ ᏒᎯᏰ. - Five and a half evening. (Same as saying “fix-thirty pm” in English).
When referring to any minutes before “the bottom of the hour” you say “Some count minutes past some count.”, “Some count minutes past some count of strikes.” or “Some count minutes past some count progression of time.”
- 4:06 - “It is six minutes past four o’clock.”
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ. - Six minutes past four.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Six minutes past four strikes.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Six minutes past four progression of time.
  - ᏑᏓᎵ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ. - Six past four.
- 4:24 - “It is twenty-four minutes past four o’clock.”
  - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏅᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ. - Twenty-four minutes past four.
  - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏅᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Twenty-four minutes past four strikes.
  - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏅᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Twenty-four minutes past four progression of time.
  - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏅᎩ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏅᎩ. - Twenty-four past four.
- 1:07 - “It is seven minutes past one o’clock.”
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏌᏊ. - Seven minutes past one.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏌᏊ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Seven minutes past one strike.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏌᏊ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Seven minutes past one progression of time.
  - ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏌᏊ. - Seven past one.
- 8:15 - “It is fifteen minutes past eight o’clock.”
  - ᎩᏄᏘᏗ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ. - A quarter past eight.
  - ᏍᎩᎦᏚ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ. - Fifteen minutes past eight.
  - ᎩᏄᏘᏗ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - A quarter past eight strikes.
  - ᏍᎩᎦᏚ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Fifteen minutes past eight strikes.
  - ᎩᏄᏘᏗ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - A quarter past eight progression of time.
  - ᏍᎩᎦᏚ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Fifteen minutes past eight progression of time.
  - ᏍᎩᎦᏚ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏣᏁᎳ. - Fifteen past eight.
When referring to any minutes after “the bottom of the hour” you say “Some count minutes lacking some count” or “Some count minutes lacking for some count of strikes.” or “Some count minutes lacking for some count progression of time” or one of the “minutes past” forms.
- 2:37 - “It is twenty-three minutes till three o’clock.”
  - When read from an analog style clock.
    - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏦᎢ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎷᎳ ᏦᎢ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Twenty-three minutes it lacks for three progression of time.
    - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏦᎢ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎷᎳ ᏦᎢ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Twenty-three minutes it lacks for three strikes.
    - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏦᎢ ᎤᏓᎷᎳ ᏦᎢ. - Twenty-three it lacks three.
  - When read from a digital style clock.
    - ᏦᏍᎪ ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏔᎵ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Thirty-seven minutes after two progression of time.
    - ᏦᏍᎪ ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏔᎵ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Thirty-seven minutes after two strikes.
    - ᏦᏍᎪ ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏔᎵ. - Thirty-seven after two.
- 3:56 - “It is four minutes till four o’clock.”
  - When read from an analog style clock.
    - ᏅᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎷᎳ ᏅᎩ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Four minutes it lacks for four progression of time.
    - ᏅᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎷᎳ ᏅᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Four minutes it lacks for four strikes.
    - ᏅᎩ ᎤᏓᎷᎳ ᏅᎩ. - Four it lacks for four.
  - When read from a digital style clock.
    - ᎯᎩᏍᎪ ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏦᎢ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Fifty-six minutes after three progress of time.
    - ᎯᎩᏍᎪ ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏦᎢ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Fifty-six minutes after three strikes.
    - ᎯᎩᏍᎪ ᏑᏓᎵ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏦᎢ. - Fifty-six after three.
- 9:45 - “It is fifteen minutes till ten o’clock.”
  - When read from an analog style clock.
    - ᎦᏄᏘᏗ ᎤᏓᎸᎳ ᏐᏁᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - A quarter it lacks for nine progression of time.
    - ᏍᎩᎦᏚ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎸᎳ ᏍᎪᎯ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Fifteen minutes it lacks for nine progression of time.
    - ᎦᏄᏘᏗ ᎤᏓᎸᎳ ᏐᏁᎳ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - A quarter it lacks for nine strikes.
    - ᏍᎩᎦᏚ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎸᎳ ᏍᎪᎯ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Fifteen minutes it lacks for nine strikes.
  - When read from a digital style clock.
    - ᏅᎩᏍᎪ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏐᏁᎳ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Forty-five minutes after nine progression of time.
    - ᏅᎩᏍᎪ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏐᏁᎳ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Forty-five minutes after nine strikes.
    - ᏅᎩᏍᎪ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᏐᏁᎳ. - Forty-five after nine.
- 5:40 - “It is twenty minutes till six o’clock.”
  - When read from an analog style clock.
    - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎸᎳ ᏑᏓᎵ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Twenty minutes it lacks for six progression of time.
    - ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᏓᎸᎳ ᏑᏓᎵ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Twenty minutes it lacks for six strikes.
  - When read from a digital style clock.
    - ᏅᎩᏍᎪᎯ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎠᏟᎢᎵ. - Forty minutes past five progression of time.
    - ᏅᎩᏍᎪᎯ ᎢᏯᏔᏬᏍᏔᏅ ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ ᎯᏍᎩ ᎢᏳᏩᏂᎸ. - Forty minutes past five strikes.