Asking the Time
To ask the time in Icelandic, literally ask "what is the clock now":
| What time is it now? | Hvað er klukkan núna? |
Quarters: Yfir and Í
The word for a quarter of an hour is korter.
- For "a quarter past", use korter yfir.
- For "a quarter to", use korter í.
| It is a quarter past five. | Klukkan er korter yfir fimm. |
| It is a quarter to ten. | Klukkan er korter í tíu. |
Half Hours: Looking Ahead
For half-hours, Icelandic looks ahead to the next hour. Use hálf (half) plus the upcoming hour. For example, hálf fimm (literally "half five") means 4:30, or half-way to five.
| The game starts at half past four. | Leikurinn byrjar klukkan hálf fimm. |
Schedules and Events
To say something happens at a specific time, you don't need an extra preposition like "at". Simply put klukkan right before the time:
| The concert starts at a quarter past eight. | Tónleikarnir byrja klukkan korter yfir átta. |
You can add words like nákvæmlega (exactly) for strict schedules:
| We need to show up at exactly half past six. | Við þurfum að mæta nákvæmlega klukkan hálf sjö. |
This pattern also works for questions:
| Is the guest showing up at a quarter to ten? | Mætir gesturinn klukkan korter í tíu? |
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