this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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[–] federalreverse@feddit.de 38 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

1.5 is "half second", 2.5 is "half third", 4.5 is "half fifth"

Interesting. ~~Regionally, some~~ Germans measure time like this, i.e. "half two" is 01:30 resp. 13:30. (Which is different from English, where people who say "half two" mean "half past two".)

We've since made the "times twenty" implicit for maximum confusion, so it's just said as "two and half fifths".

I know very little about Danish, but I learned that Danes slur the middle of most words. So I suspect you actually pronounce even less of the word than you'd write..?

Because language is stubborn.

Belgian French gives me hope.

--

[Edited: Usage is not regional]

[–] lugal@sopuli.xyz 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Regionally, some Germans measure time like this, i.e. "half two" is 01:30 resp. 13:30.

This isn't regional nor "some", I never met a German wo doesn't. Sure, there is "13 o'clock 30" and both are valid but I'd say the default is still the half system.

When it comes to quarters, there are regional differences and it's a common "ice breaker" or small talk topic when people from all over Germany come together.

[–] federalreverse@feddit.de 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am dumb. I confused this with dreiviertel vs. Viertel vor.

[–] SmoothOperator@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

When we say "half two" we also mean 13:30. It's a pain when in Britain.

And yeah, I guess in pronouncing you'd say 92 as "to'å'l'fems" rather than "to-og-halv-fems".

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 9 points 1 year ago

It's pronounced "toh-år-hal-fems".

That's 3 syllables, because the first two are glissando, but even the most rural person needs some consonants between the rest to make any sense.

[–] sqw@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 1 year ago

I’ve run into Americans for whom “half two” means 13:30. I like it but it confuses everyone.