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Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.

Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.
The meeting starts at eleven o'clock.
FromLesson 22inHardcore Finnish
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Breakdown of Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.

kokous
the meeting
alkaa
to start
kello
the clock
yksitoista
eleven
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Questions & Answers about Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.

What does the word bolded as kello do in this sentence?
Kello literally means clock, but in time expressions it works like English o’clock/at. It introduces a time of day. So kello yksitoista = at eleven (o’clock). In writing you can shorten kello to klo (e.g., klo 11).
Why is it yksitoista for 11? How are 11–19 built in Finnish?

Finnish forms 11–19 as [number] + toista, literally “(so many) of the second (ten).”

  • 11 = yksitoista
  • 12 = kaksitoista
  • 13 = kolmetoista, … 19 = yhdeksäntoista

In this sentence, yksitoista is the basic (dictionary) form.

Is kello yksitoista the only correct way to say “at eleven”?

No. All these are used and understood:

  • Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.
  • Kokous alkaa kello yhdeltätoista.
  • Kokous alkaa yhdeltätoista. (no kello)

They all mean “The meeting starts at eleven.” The version with -lta/-ltä (ablative: yhdeltätoista) is very common, especially without kello. The nominative after kello (kello yksitoista) is also widely used.

Why is the verb in the present (alkaa) if the meeting is in the future?
Finnish commonly uses the present tense for scheduled or timetabled future events. Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista = “The meeting starts (will start) at 11.” A future auxiliary isn’t needed. You could add a future time word: Huomenna kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.
Could I leave out kello entirely?

Yes, if you put the hour in the ablative:

  • Kokous alkaa yhdeltätoista. = “The meeting starts at eleven.”

If you use digits, you can also write:

  • Kokous alkaa 11.00. or Kokous alkaa klo 11.00.
What’s the difference between alkaa and aloittaa?
  • alkaa = intransitive “to begin/start” (the event itself begins): Kokous alkaa kello 11.
  • aloittaa = transitive “to start (something)” (someone starts it): Puheenjohtaja aloittaa kokouksen kello 11.
Is there any article like “the” or “a” before kokous?
No. Finnish has no articles. Kokous can mean “the meeting” or “a meeting,” depending on context.
Can I change the word order, e.g., Kello yksitoista kokous alkaa?

Yes. Finnish word order is flexible. Fronting the time (Kello yksitoista) emphasizes it:

  • Neutral: Kokous alkaa kello yksitoista.
  • Time-focused: Kello yksitoista kokous alkaa.
How do I write the time with numbers correctly?

Common written options:

  • klo 11 (very common in notices)
  • klo 11.00 (dot is typical in Finland), klo 11:00 is also understood
  • kello 11 (spelled out) In running text, klo is preferred over the symbol @ or anything else.
How do I say “at 11 a.m.” or “at 11 p.m.” in Finnish?

Finnish usually avoids a.m./p.m.:

  • Use a 24‑hour clock: klo 11 (11 a.m.), klo 23 (11 p.m.)
  • Or add a time-of-day word: kello yksitoista aamulla (in the morning), kello yksitoista illalla (in the evening).
How do I say “around 11,” “by 11,” or “exactly at 11”?
  • Around 11: yhdentoista maissa or noin kello yksitoista
  • By 11 (no later than): viimeistään kello yksitoista
  • Exactly at 11 (on the dot): tasan kello yksitoista
How do I say 11:15, 11:30, and 11:45?

Several natural options:

  • 11:15: varttia yli yksitoista or kello 11.15
  • 11:30: puoli kaksitoista (note: literally “half to twelve,” Finnish counts toward the next hour) or kello 11.30
  • 11:45: varttia vaille kaksitoista or kello 11.45
Is kello yksitoista different from yhdeltätoista in nuance?
Not in meaning; both are normal. Many speakers find -lta/-ltä forms (yhdeltätoista, kolmelta, viideltä) especially natural with verbs like alkaa/loppua/päättyä, while kello + nominative (kello yksitoista) is also common, especially in written notices.
What kinds of “meeting” does kokous refer to? Are there synonyms?

Kokous is a formal meeting (board meeting, AGM, committee). Common alternatives:

  • palaveri: less formal work meeting
  • tapaaminen: a meeting/appointment with someone (less about a formal agenda)
Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?
  • kokous: three syllables, ko-ko-us; the diphthong ou is pronounced smoothly
  • alkaa: long aa at the end; keep it long
  • kello: double l means a longer l sound
  • yksitoista: break it as yk-si-tois-ta; the ks is pronounced like “ks,” not “gz”