Telling the Time

Here is a handy reference for telling the time.

Aaniin endaso-diba’ iganed? (What time is it?)
Ningo-diba’ iganed (It's one o’clock)
Niizho-diba’iganed (It's two o’clock)
Niso-diba’ iganed (It's three o’clock)
Niiyo-diba’ iganed (It's four o’clock)
Naano-diba’ iganed (It's five o’clock)
Ningodwaaso-diba’ iganed (It's six o’clock)
Niizhwaaso-diba’ iganed (It's seven o’ clock)
Nishwaaso-diba’ iganed (It's eight o’clock)
Zhaangaso-diba’ iganed (It's nine o’clock)
Midaaso-diba’ iganed (It's ten o’clock)
Ashi ningo-diba’ iganed (It's eleven o’clock)
Ashi niizho-diba’ iganed (It's twelve o’clock)

*** If you want to say "At ... o- clock", simply change "iganed" to "iganeg".

Naawakwe (It's noon)

• Naawakweg (At noon)

Aabitaa-dibikad (It's midnight)

• Aabitaa-dibikak (At midnight)

Diba’igan (Hour)
Diba’iganens (Minute)


Some examples of telling time (parts of the hour) using "ishkwaa" (after) and "jibwaa" before:

• Ashi-naano-diba'igaans jibwaa (dabwaa) naano--diba'iganeg - It's quarter to 5:00 / It's 15 minutes before 5:00M
• Midasso-diba'igaans ishkwaa naano-diba'iganeg - It is 5:10 / It's 10 minutes after 5:00.
• Midasso-diba'igaans ishkwaa niizho-diba'iganeg - at 2:10 / at 10 minutes aft 2:00

And some examples using "ashi-aabita" (half past):

• Naawakwe-ashi-aabita. It's 12:30 afternoon. - It's noon and a half
• Midaaso-diba'iganed ashi-aabita. - It's 10:30.