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Questions & Answers about Είναι δύο η ώρα.
What does each word in the sentence mean, and what’s the literal translation?
- Είναι: is/are (3rd person of “to be”)
- δύο: two
- η: the (feminine singular article)
- ώρα: hour; time (of day)
Literal: “Is two the hour,” i.e., “The time is two.”
Why is the article η feminine?
Because ώρα is a feminine noun. The article must agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case, so it’s η (feminine singular nominative).
Why is it singular (η ώρα) and not plural (οι ώρες)?
When telling the time, Greek (like many languages) treats “the hour” as a singular unit: “The time (hour) is two.” The plural οι ώρες is used for durations (e.g., “two hours long”), not for clock time.
Is the word order fixed? Can I say Η ώρα είναι δύο?
Yes, both are correct:
- Είναι δύο η ώρα.
- Η ώρα είναι δύο. They mean the same. The first places focus on the number; the second is more neutral. In everyday speech you also hear just Είναι δύο.
Can I leave out η ώρα?
Yes. In casual speech people often say simply Είναι δύο (“It’s two”). Adding η ώρα makes it explicit and a bit more formal or clear.
Can I omit the verb είναι?
In informal speech, yes: Δύο η ώρα. Greek often drops the copula in short, fixed expressions. In careful or formal contexts, keep είναι.
How do I say “It’s one o’clock”? Why not use ένας?
Say Είναι μία η ώρα (or Είναι μια η ώρα). You use μία/μια (feminine form of “one”) because ώρα is feminine. Ένας is masculine and wouldn’t agree.
Do numbers change with ώρα? What about 3 and 4 o’clock?
Yes, agreement shows up with 3 and 4:
- 3: Είναι τρεις η ώρα (feminine/masculine form; not τρία).
- 4: Είναι τέσσερις η ώρα (not τέσσερα). For 2 (δύο) and for 5–12 (e.g., πέντε, έξι, επτά, οκτώ, εννέα, δέκα, έντεκα, δώδεκα) the form doesn’t change.
How do I say 2:15, 2:30, and 2:45?
- 2:15: Είναι δύο και τέταρτο.
- 2:30: Είναι δύο και μισή. (μισή is feminine, agreeing with the understood “hour.”)
- 2:45: Είναι τρεις παρά τέταρτο. (“quarter to three”) You can also use minutes: και δέκα (past), παρά πέντε (to), etc.
How do I say “at two o’clock”?
Use στις (at) + the hour:
- στις δύο (η ώρα) = at two o’clock
- For one o’clock: στη μία (η ώρα) In everyday speech, στις δύο or στη μία is enough.
How do I distinguish telling the time from talking about duration?
- Clock time: Είναι δύο (η ώρα). = It’s two o’clock.
- Duration: δύο ώρες = two hours. Examples: Το μάθημα κρατάει δύο ώρες. (“The class lasts two hours.”)
What about noon and midnight?
- “It’s noon.” = Είναι μεσημέρι.
- “It’s midnight.” = Είναι μεσάνυχτα. You can also say: Είναι δώδεκα το μεσημέρι / Είναι δώδεκα τα μεσάνυχτα.
Is there a difference between δύο and δυο?
Both are correct and sound the same. δύο is the more formal/spelling-pronounced version; δυο is a very common variant in everyday writing. Use either; meaning is identical.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
Approximate: “EE-neh THEE-oh ee OH-rah.” IPA: [ˈine ˈðjo i ˈora] Note: δ is like the “th” in “this” (voiced), and η/ι sound like English “ee.”
Why not την ώρα here?
Because with the verb “to be” (είναι), both sides are in the nominative: η ώρα. την ώρα (accusative) appears after certain prepositions or verbs (e.g., στην ώρα “on time”), but not in this copular sentence.
How do I indicate AM/PM in Greek?
Greek usually uses parts of the day:
- το πρωί (in the morning), το μεσημέρι (at noon), το απόγευμα (in the afternoon), το βράδυ (in the evening), τη νύχτα / τα ξημερώματα (at night / early morning). Examples: Είναι δύο το μεσημέρι (2 pm), Είναι δύο τη νύχτα (2 am).
Can I use the 24‑hour clock in speech?
In everyday speech, people prefer the 12‑hour style with parts of the day. In official or timetable contexts you’ll hear the 24‑hour style: στις δεκατέσσερις και τριάντα (at 14:30). Saying Είναι δεκατέσσερις η ώρα is unusual in casual conversation; you’d more naturally say Είναι δύο το μεσημέρι.
How can I say “exactly two” or “about two”?
- Exactly: Είναι δύο ακριβώς.
- About: Είναι περίπου δύο.
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