Learn Hardcore Greek: Τι ώρα είναι τώρα;

In Greek, the question mark is written as ; (the semicolon-shaped symbol). So …; marks a question. The Greek semicolon is a raised dot (·, called άνω τελεία).

How do I pronounce it?

Approximation: tee OH-rah EE-neh TO-rah?
IPA: [ti ˈoɾa ˈine ˈtora]
Tips:
- ρ is a tapped/rolled r.
- ω (omega) sounds the same as ο (omicron): /o/.
- The accent mark (τόνος) shows the stressed syllable: ώρα, τόρα, είναι.

Why is there no article before ώρα?

With questions about clock time, Greek uses τι ώρα without an article. You do see the article when η ώρα is the subject: e.g., Η ώρα είναι δύο (The time is two). But the question pattern is Τι ώρα είναι;

What form is είναι?

It’s the present indicative, 3rd person singular of είμαι (to be). Mini paradigm:

είμαι = I am
είσαι = you are (sg.)
είναι = he/she/it is; they are
είμαστε = we are
είστε/είσαστε = you are (pl.)

Can I drop τώρα and just say Τι ώρα είναι;?

Yes. Τι ώρα είναι; is the default for What time is it? Adding τώρα simply emphasizes “now” or checks the current time specifically.

Are there other natural ways to ask for the time?

Polite: Συγγνώμη, τι ώρα είναι; / Παρακαλώ, τι ώρα είναι;
Very polite/indirect: Μήπως ξέρετε τι ώρα είναι; (Do you happen to know what time it is?)
Colloquial: Έχεις ώρα; (Do you have the time?) / Τι ώρα έχει; (colloquial/regional)

Can I change the word order?

Yes, Greek word order is flexible. Common variants:

Τι ώρα είναι τώρα;
Τώρα τι ώρα είναι; Avoid splitting τι ώρα: Τι ώρα τώρα είναι; sounds unnatural.

Why is τι not written with an accent?

Monosyllables in Greek are usually written without an accent unless needed to avoid ambiguity. The interrogative τι is normally unaccented. You might see τί in emphatic or older/poetic contexts, but here τι is standard.

What’s the difference between τι ώρα and πότε?

τι ώρα asks for a specific clock time: Τι ώρα αρχίζει; (What time does it start?)
πότε means “when” more generally: Πότε αρχίζει; (When does it start?) It might be answered with a day, date, or time.

How do I answer this question (tell the time) in Greek?

Patterns:

Whole hours: Είναι μία. / Είναι δύο. / Είναι τρεις. / Είναι τέσσερις.
Quarter past: … και τέταρτο (e.g., Είναι τρεις και τέταρτο.)
Half past: … και μισή (e.g., Είναι τέσσερις και μισή.)
Quarter to: … παρά τέταρτο (e.g., Είναι επτά παρά τέταρτο.)
Exactly: … ακριβώς (e.g., Είναι οκτώ ακριβώς.)
AM/PM via context: το πρωί, το μεσημέρι, το απόγευμα, το βράδυ, τη νύχτα
24-hour style (formal): Είναι δεκαοκτώ και τριάντα.

Why is ώρα feminine, and what does that change?

Noun gender is part of each word’s grammar; ώρα is feminine. When stating hours, some numerals agree in gender:

1: μία (feminine) → Είναι μία.
3, 4: τρεις, τέσσερις (feminine forms) → Είναι τρεις/τέσσερις. Neuter forms (ένα, τρία, τέσσερα) are not used for hours.

What do the accent marks (τόνοι) do in these words?

They mark stress:

ώρα and τώρα are stressed on the first syllable.
είναι is stressed on εί. The accent doesn’t change vowel quality—only which syllable is stressed.

Why does είναι sound like “EE-neh” if it ends with -αι?

The digraph αι is pronounced /e/ (like “eh”). ει is /i/. So είναι = /ˈi.ne/ → EE-neh.

When should I use ώρα vs. χρόνος or καιρός?

ώρα = hour/time of day (clock time)
χρόνος = time in a general/measurable sense; also “year” in some set phrases (not for clock time)
καιρός = weather; also “the right time/moment” in some expressions You ask the current time with τι ώρα only.

Is there any difference between Τι ώρα είναι; and Τι ώρα έχει;?

Both can mean What time is it? Τι ώρα είναι; is standard and neutral. Τι ώρα έχει; is more colloquial/regional; it’s widely understood but less formal.

Can I say Ποια ώρα είναι τώρα;?

Not for the current time. Ποια ώρα means “which hour” and is used when choosing among options (e.g., Ποια ώρα σε βολεύει; = Which time suits you?). For asking the current time, use Τι ώρα είναι (τώρα);