What time is it?

Two ways to ask

Который час? is the classic question and Сколько времени? is the everyday one. Both are answered the same way, and the answer is a number plus the right form of the word for hour.

One hour, two hours: час, часа, часов

The noun after a numeral changes shape, and the rule is the same one you will meet again with every countable thing in Russian. One takes the plain form, two to four take one form, five and above take another.

The rule follows the last digit, which is why 21 goes back to час and 22 back to часа.

Half past and the digital reading

Russians read a clock in two registers. In writing and on the radio the time is simply two numbers: два тридцать. In speech the half hour has its own word, and полвторого means half of the second hour, that is half past one – one hour earlier than a learner expects.

Сколько времени? – Сейчас три часа.What time is it? – It is three o'clock.

Урок начинается в девять.The lesson begins at nine.