How to tell the time in Persian

Telling the time in Persian reuses your numbers plus two small words for half and quarter.

To ask the time, say saat chande? ساعت چنده؟, what time is it. To answer, start with saat (o'clock) and the number: saat se is three o'clock.

Half and quarter

Add o nim و نیم for half past: saat se o nim is 3:30. Add o rob' و ربع for quarter past: saat se o rob' is 3:15.

Minutes to the hour

For "to the hour," use be ... mande (remaining to): rob' be chahar means a quarter to four. For exact minutes, just say the number of minutes: saat se o bist daghighe is 3:20.

Parts of the day

Anchor the time with sobh (morning), zohr (noon), asr (afternoon), and shab (night), since Persian does not rely on AM and PM in speech.

Once your numbers are solid, time is just saat plus a number, with o nim and o rob doing the rest.