How to Say Time in Spanish

Introduction to Telling Time in Spanish

When it comes to telling time in Spanish, there are some key differences compared to English. For example, while English speakers use the 12-hour clock, Spanish speakers often use the 24-hour clock. Additionally, prepositions are used in Spanish to indicate the time of day, such as “de la mañana” (in the morning) or “de la noche” (at night).

Learning how to tell time in Spanish is an important skill for anyone who wants to communicate effectively in the language. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of telling time in Spanish, including the key vocabulary and grammar you’ll need to know.

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time

Before you can start telling time in Spanish, you’ll need to know some basic vocabulary. Here are some key words and phrases to get you started:

• Hora: Hour
• Minuto: Minute
• Segundo: Second
• Cuarto: Quarter (referring to 15 minutes)
• Media: Half (referring to 30 minutes)
• En punto: On the dot (referring to a specific hour, without any minutes)
• Menos: Less (referring to minutes before the hour)
• Y: And (referring to minutes after the hour)

For example, to say “It’s 3:30,” you would say “Son las tres y media.” To say “It’s 4:45,” you would say “Son las cinco menos cuarto,” because the next hour is 5 and there are 15 minutes until that time.

The 12-Hour and 24-Hour Clocks in Spanish

In Spanish, both the 12-hour and 24-hour clocks are used to tell time. The 12-hour clock is more common in spoken language, while the 24-hour clock is typically used in written language or formal situations.

To use the 12-hour clock, simply add “de la mañana” (in the morning), “de la tarde” (in the afternoon), or “de la noche” (at night) to the end of the time. For example, to say “It’s 2:00 in the afternoon,” you would say “Son las dos de la tarde.”

To use the 24-hour clock, simply state the hour and minutes without any additional phrases. For example, to say “It’s 14:30,” you would say “Son las catorce y treinta.” It’s important to note that the 24-hour clock starts at 0:00 (midnight) and goes up to 23:59 (one minute before midnight).

Using Prepositions to Talk about Time

In Spanish, prepositions are used to indicate the time of day. Here are some common prepositions and their meanings:

• De la mañana: In the morning (typically from 6:00am to 12:00pm)
• De la tarde: In the afternoon (typically from 12:01pm to 6:00pm)
• De la noche: At night (typically from 6:01pm to 11:59pm)
• De la medianoche: At midnight
• Del mediodía: At noon

These prepositions are often used in combination with the 12-hour clock. For example, to say “It’s 7:00 in the morning,” you would say “Son las siete de la mañana.”

It’s also important to note that when telling time in Spanish, the hour typically comes before the minutes. So instead of saying “3:15,” you would say “Son las tres y cuarto.”

Common Phrases and Expressions for Time in Spanish

In addition to the basic vocabulary and grammar rules, there are some common phrases and expressions you can use when telling time in Spanish. Here are a few examples:

• ¿Qué hora es?: What time is it?
• Son las…: It’s…
• ¿A qué hora…?: At what time…?
• Es hora de…: It’s time to…
• La hora punta: Rush hour
• En cualquier momento: Anytime
• Hace poco tiempo: A short time ago
• Con el tiempo: With time

By incorporating these phrases and expressions into your conversations, you can sound more natural and confident when telling time in Spanish. It’s also a good idea to practice telling time in different contexts, such as talking about schedules, making plans, or asking for directions. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to tell time in Spanish like a pro!