What time is it? (Zer ordu da?)

In Basque the time is built with the verb izan (to be) and, except for “one o’clock”, the hour is always plural. Literally: “they are the fives”, “they are the eights”. It sounds odd at first, but the pattern is very regular.

The question

To ask the time you use Zer ordu da? (“what time is it?”).

— Zer ordu da?

— Zazpiak dira. (It is seven o’clock.)

The hours on the dot

Time	Basque
1:00	Ordu bata da
2:00	Ordu biak dira
3:00	Hirurak dira
4:00	Laurak dira
5:00	Bostak dira
6:00	Seiak dira
7:00	Zazpiak dira
8:00	Zortziak dira
9:00	Bederatziak dira
10:00	Hamarrak dira
11:00	Hamaikak dira
12:00	Hamabiak dira

Why one o’clock and two o’clock are special

• Ordu bata (one o’clock) is singular, so you say it with da: Ordu bata da.
• Ordu biak (two o’clock) has the word ordu in front because biak on its own could be confusing — it is the only hour where many people add “ordu” for extra clarity. The rest (from three o’clock on) stand alone: hirurak, laurak, bostak…

The suffix -ak

Where does that final -ak come from? It is the Basque plural (you saw it in gurasoak, aiton-amonak). Here it is too: bost (five) → bostak (“the fives”) + dira (“they are”).

Note: many people tell the time of day with the 12-hour clock, just like in Spanish. To distinguish morning from afternoon, just add goizeko (in the morning) or arratsaldeko (in the afternoon) in front: goizeko zortziak (eight in the morning). We will see this in lesson 3.

Practice

Look at your phone clock right now and say it out loud. If it is eleven o’clock: hamaikak dira. If it is one o’clock: ordu bata da. Do it all week long every time you check the clock — it is the best way to make it automatic.