Telling Time
Telling time in Spanish revolves around key phrases and the way you express hours, minutes, and parts of the day. This guide goes through the basic vocabulary and structures so you can clearly say and ask for time.
Key Vocabulary
The fundamental words for time include hora, minuto, segundo, and expressions like en punto, y cuarto and media. These let you specify exact times or approximate moments.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| hora | hour |
| minuto | minute |
| segundo | second |
| en punto | sharp / on the dot |
| y cuarto | quarter past |
| y media | half past |
| menos cuarto | quarter to |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🕰️ El reloj está en la pared del aula. | The clock is on the classroom wall. |
| ⏰ Mi reloj despertador suena muy temprano. | My alarm clock rings very early. |
| 🕒 La clase empieza a las tres en punto. | Class starts at three o’clock. |
| 🕧 El recreo es a las doce y media. | Recess is at twelve thirty. |
| ⏳ El profesor usa un temporizador para los ejercicios. | The teacher uses a timer for the exercises. |
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Asking for Time
To ask for the time you use ¿Qué hora es? or more situational phrases like ¿A qué hora...?. Responses typically start with Es la... for 1 o'clock or Son las... for other hours.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🧑🎓 ¿Qué hora es, por favor? | What time is it, please? |
| 👩🏫 ¿Me puedes decir la hora? | Can you tell me the time? |
| 🧑🎓 ¿A qué hora empieza la clase de matemáticas? | What time does math class start? |
| 👩🏫 ¿Cuándo es el recreo? | When is recess? |
| 🧑🎓 ¿La clase termina a las cuatro? | Does class end at four? |
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Saying the Time
Use Es la + hour for 1 o'clock and Son las + hour for other times. Add y + minutes for past the hour, or menos + minutes for minutes before the next hour. Expressions like en punto, cuarto and media make it more natural.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🕐 Es la una en punto. | It is one o’clock. |
| 🕑 Son las dos y cuarto. | It is two fifteen. |
| 🕒 Son las tres y media. | It is three thirty. |
| 🕓 Son las cuatro menos diez. | It is ten minutes to four. |
| 🕕 La clase empieza a las seis. | Class starts at six. |
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Using 12-Hour vs 24-Hour Time
Spanish normally uses 12-hour time with AM/PM indicators like de la mañana, de la tarde and de la noche. The 24-hour clock appears more in schedules and formal contexts. Add the period of day to avoid ambiguity.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| de la mañana | in the morning (AM) |
| de la tarde | in the afternoon (PM) |
| de la noche | in the evening/night (PM) |
| mediodía | noon |
| medianoche | midnight |
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌅 La clase es a las siete de la mañana. | Class is at seven in the morning. | 12-hour with am |
| 🌇 La reunión es a las tres de la tarde. | The meeting is at three in the afternoon. | 12-hour with pm |
| 🕙 El horario dice las 15:00 para la clase de inglés. | The schedule says 15:00 for the English class. | 24-hour time |
| 🕘 La biblioteca cierra a las veinte horas. | The library closes at eight o’clock (pm). | 24-hour time formal |
| 🗓️ El examen es el viernes a las nueve. | The exam is on Friday at nine. | Context usually clarifies am/pm |
Parts of the Day
Referring to parts of the day helps situate time more naturally. Use por la mañana, por la tarde and por la noche for general periods, and specific times like al mediodía for lunchtime moments.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌄 Estudio por la mañana antes de clase. | I study in the morning before class. |
| ☀️ La clase de ciencias es al mediodía. | Science class is at noon. |
| 🌆 Hago la tarea por la tarde. | I do homework in the afternoon. |
| 🌙 Repaso mis notas por la noche. | I review my notes at night. |
| 🌌 Me acuesto tarde después de estudiar. | I go to bed late after studying. |
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Useful Expressions
Phrases like a tiempo, a las ... en punto and más o menos help you talk about punctuality and approximate time. These expressions are common in everyday speech when planning or describing events.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ⏳ Tengo cinco minutos antes de la próxima clase. | I have five minutes before the next class. |
| 🏃 La clase empieza en diez minutos. | Class starts in ten minutes. |
| 🧑🏫 Llegaste tarde, la clase empezó hace un cuarto de hora. | You arrived late, class started fifteen minutes ago. |
| 📅 Hoy tenemos horario de salida temprano. | Today we have an early dismissal schedule. |
| 💤 Hoy me siento cansado, la clase parece más larga. | Today I feel tired, class seems longer. |
Summary
Telling time in Spanish relies on key questions like ¿Qué hora es?, the difference between Es la and Son las, and vocabulary for minutes and parts of the day. Practice forming times aloud using market expressions to internalize the patterns.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025