Telling time

By Speak Indo, from the Speak Indo Indonesian course.

Use jam + number. Add lewat (past) or kurang (to) for fractions.

How it works

Jam berapa? = What time is it? Basic time: jam + number (1-12). • Jam satu = 1 o'clock • Jam tiga lewat sepuluh = 10 past 3 • Jam empat kurang seperempat = 3:45 (quarter to 4) • Setengah lima = 4:30 (lit. 'half to 5', counter-intuitive in English) To add AM/PM context, use pagi (morning), siang (midday), sore (afternoon), malam (night).

Examples

• Sekarang jam berapa?
  What time is it now?
• Jam tujuh pagi.
  Seven in the morning.
• Setengah enam sore.
  5:30 in the evening.
• Jam sepuluh kurang lima menit.
  Five minutes to ten (9:55).