Telling Time in Spanish: Everyday Guide with Real-Life Phrases

Unlock the fundamentals of telling time in Spanish with this comprehensive guide, essential for travelers and language learners alike. From asking "¿Qué hora es?" to scheduling a meeting, mastering la hora involves using the verb ser ($Eslauna$ / $Sonlasdos$), employing "y" (and) for minutes past the hour (e.g., y media for half past), and "menos" (minus) for minutes before the next hour (e.g., menos cuarto for a quarter to).

This resource breaks down how to tell time in Spanish easily: the basic structure, special phrases (y cuarto, menos cuarto), and time of day indicators, ensuring you can confidently engage with the rhythm of daily life in any Spanish-speaking country.

1️⃣Basic Structure: “Ser” + “La/Las” + Hour

Spanish uses the verb "ser" to tell time. You’ll say:

🕐 Es la una. (It’s one o’clock.) 

⏰Vamos al cine a la una.(We’re going to the movies at one.)

🕑 Son las dos. (It’s two o’clock.)
🕒 Son las tres. (It’s three o’clock.) 

⏰La clase empieza a las tres. (The class starts at three.)

Use "la" for 1 o’clock (because "hora" is singular/gender feminine), and "las" for all others.

2. Adding Minutes with “y” (Past the Hour)

To say minutes past the hour, use "y" followed by the number of minutes:

🕒 Son las tres y cinco. (3:05)  

        Nos vemos a las tres y cinco frente a la panadería. 

 (See you at 3:05 in front of the bakery.)

🕖 Son las siete y veinte. (7:20)

⏰El bus llega a las siete y veinte. 

        (The bus arrives at 7:20.)

Special phrases:

• "y cuarto" (quarter past) → Son las ocho y cuarto. (8:15)
• "y media" (half past) → Es la una y media. (1:30)

⏰Salimos a la una y media del trabajo. (We leave work at 1:30.)

3️⃣ Using “menos” (Minutes to the Hour)

For times close to the next hour, subtract minutes:

Son las cuatro menos diez. (3:50)

La reunión es a las cuatro menos diez. 

⏰The meeting is at 3:50.

⏰ Son las siete menos veinte. (6:40)

⏰Llegamos al aeropuerto a las siete menos veinte. (We arrive at 6:40.)

Special phrase:

"menos cuarto" (quarter to) → Son las once menos cuarto. (10:45)

⏰Cena a las once menos cuarto. (Dinner’s at 10:45.)

4️⃣ Time of Day: A.M./P.M. Equivalents

Spanish uses phrases instead of A.M. and P.M.:

De la mañana

morning (1 AM–12 PM) 

Son las nueve de la mañana. (9 AM) 

De la tarde

afternoon/evening 

Son las cinco de la tarde. (5 PM) |

de la noche 

evening/night 

Son las diez de la noche. (10 PM) |

de la madrugada 

very early morning 

Son las tres de la madrugada. (3 AM) |

You’ll also hear:

• 🕛 Es mediodía. (It’s noon.) → Vamos a almorzar al mediodía.
• 🌙 Es medianoche. (It’s midnight.) → Ya es medianoche, hora de dormir.
• 🎯 En punto (on the dot) → Son las cinco en punto. (5 sharp)

5️⃣24-Hour Clock (Used in Timetables)

Used in transportation and official timetables, especially in Spain:

📅 Son las dieciséis treinta. (It’s 16:30 → 4:30 PM)

El tren sale a las dieciséis treinta.

📅 Son las veintiuna cero cinco. (It’s 21:05 → 9:05 PM)

La película empieza a las veintiuna cero cinco.

🧩 In daily conversation, most people still use the 12-hour format:

Son las cuatro y media de la tarde.

Appendix: 

English speakers learning to tell time in Spanish often face these challenges:

Using "ser" vs. other verbs and correct hour format: 

English uses "it is" for time (e.g., "It is 3 o'clock"), but Spanish uses the verb "ser" with specific conjugations, and the structure varies depending on whether the time is singular or plural. For example, "Es la una" (It’s one o’clock) uses the singular "es," while "Son las dos" (It’s two o’clock) uses the plural "son." English speakers may struggle with this shift and the use of "la" or "las" for hours.Solution: Practice the rule: use "es la" for one o’clock and "son las" for all other hours. Memorize key phrases like "Es la una en punto" (It’s one o’clock sharp) and "Son las tres y media" (It’s three thirty). 

Expressing minutes and time conventions: English speakers often find it tricky to express minutes past the hour, especially with terms like "cuarto" (quarter) and "media" (half). For example, "3:15" is "Son las tres y cuarto," not a direct translation of "three fifteen." Additionally, phrases like "menos cuarto" (quarter to) for times like 2:45 can confuse learners unfamiliar with subtracting minutes.Solution: Learn key time expressions: "y cuarto" (quarter past), "y media" (half past), and "menos cuarto" (quarter to). Practice with a clock or time-telling apps, converting English times (e.g., 4:30, 5:45) into Spanish. Listening to native speakers on platforms like YouTube can help with natural phrasing.

Regional variations and AM/PM vs. 24-hour clock: 

English speakers are used to AM/PM, but Spanish often uses the 24-hour clock in formal settings (e.g., "Son las quince horas" for 3:00 PM). Regional differences, like adding "de la mañana/tarde/noche" for clarity, can also trip learners up.Solution: Familiarize yourself with the 24-hour clock by practicing conversions (e.g., 14:00 = 2:00 PM). Learn time-of-day phrases: "de la mañana" (morning), "de la tarde" (afternoon), "de la noche" (evening/night). Apps like Quizlet or watching Spanish news can help you adapt to context-specific usage.

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