Exact Hours
To state what time it is, simply use the word saat (time/hour) followed by the number. If you want to specify that a time is "exactly" on the hour, you can add the word tam (exactly).
Half Past
To say "half past" an hour, Turkish uses the word buçuk. Just place it directly after the hour.
Let's also look at how to state the time for a mola (break).
"Buçuk" vs. "Yarım"
Turkish has two different words for "half," and they cannot be swapped:
- Use buçuk when adding a half to a whole number (like "half past ten" or "two and a half").
- Use yarım when you mean "half of something" on its own (like "half an hour" or "half an apple").
Minutes and Seconds
Time is divided into hours, minutes (dakika), and seconds (saniye).
Fast and Slow Clocks
The versatile word saat means "time" and "hour", but it also means "clock" or "watch". Because of this, you can use possessive suffixes on it, such as saatim (my watch).
If your watch or clock is running fast, you say it is ileri (literally: forward). If it is running slow, it is geri (literally: backward).
Alarms and Commands
When dealing with an alarm, electronics, or doors, Turkish uses the verbs açmak (to open / turn on) and kapatmak (to close / turn off).
To give a direct command, you simply use the verb root (like kapat for "turn off!"). To tell someone not to do something, add the negative suffix -ma or -me to that root (like kapatma).