Time and days in Latin
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please. Play the ten Latin words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Latin phrases in this lesson
- Nuncnoonk
- Now
- PosteaPOS-tay-ah
- Later
- Hodiehoh-DEE-eh
- Today
- Craskrahs
- Tomorrow
- Hac noctehahk NOK-teh
- Tonight
- Quando?KWAN-doh
- When?
- Qua hora aperitur?kwah HO-ra a-pe-REE-tur
- What time does it open?
- Exspecta paulispereks-SPEK-ta pow-LIS-per
- One moment, please
- Minutaemi-NOO-tai
- Minutes
- HoraeHO-rai
- Hours
Nunc (now, at this moment). Iam (already, soon) adds imminence. Statim (immediately) is even more urgent.
Postea (afterwards, later). Mox (soon) is slightly more urgent. Paulatim (by and by) suggests gradual passage.
Hodie (today) is a standalone word. Hoc die (this day) is more formal. Common in dating and scheduling.
Cras (tomorrow). Crastinum (the morrow) is the noun form. Postridie (the day after) extends beyond tomorrow.
Literally "wait a little while".
Modern Latin. Romans divided the day into twelve hours that stretched and shrank with the seasons.