Time (La hora)

To ask what time it is in Spanish, you ask: ¿Qué hora es?

For 1pm, the response will be: Es la una.

For all other times, you will use the plural form of the verb ser:

Son las dos

Son las cuatro

Son las diez, etc

The Spanish clock is divided in half with the hour beginning at 31 past the previous hour and ending at 30 after the hour, so the 1 o’clock hour begins at 12:31 and ends at 1:30. (Due to English influence, this is not always followed within the United States.)

Between 1 o’clock and 1:30, you would use y (and):

1:01 = Es la una y uno.

1:20 = Es la una y veinte.

1:25 = Es la una y veinticinco.

Between 12:31 and 12:59, which are part of the 1 o’clock hour, you use menos (minus):

12:35 = Es la una menos veinticinco. (It’s 25 ‘til 1)

12:50 = Es la una menos diez.

12:40 = Es la una menos veinte.

To express the quarter hour, you can either use cuarto (quarter) or quince (15):

1:15 = Es la una y cuarto. / Es la una y quince.

3:15 = Son las tres y cuarto. / Son las tres y quince.

8:15 = Son las ocho y cuarto. / Son las ocho y quince.

12:45 = Es la una menos cuarto. / Es la una menos quince.

4:45 = Son las cinco menos cuarto. / Son las cinco menos quince.

9:45 = Son las diez menos cuarto. / Son las diez menos quince.

To express the half hour, then you use media (half):

1:30 = Es la una y media.

11:30 = Son las once y media.

12:30 = Son las doce y media.

NOTE: you never use menos with the half hour.

Spanish distinguishes a little more than English about the time of day. Whereas English only has AM and PM, Spanish distinguishes between morning, afternoon, and evening/night time:

De la mañana (For my Spanish classes, I use this until noon time)

De la tarde (For my Spanish classes only, I use this from noon to 6pm) Though, this would usually be used until dusk.

De la noche (For my Spanish classes only, I use this for after 6pm) This would usually be used after dusk.

Usually someone always ask, well what about 1:00 am? Is that morning or night time? Well, it’s pretty much like English; depends on your prespective.

Examples of time:

1:15 pm = Es la una y cuarto de la tarde.

12:55 pm = Es la una menos cinco de la tarde.

5:40 am = Son las seis menos veinte de la mañana.

8:30 pm = Son las ocho y media de la noche.

10:47 am = Son las once menos trece de la mañana.

9:16 am = Son las nueve y dieciséis de la mañana.

2:28 pm = Son las dos y veintiocho de la tarde.

More examples can be found with the time flashcard worksheet.