Spanish time vocabulary and expressions, including how to ask for the time, tell time in various ways, and use common time-related phrases for everyday conversations.
Understanding how to tell time is an essential part of learning Spanish. This guide covers the key vocabulary, expressions, and grammar you need to ask for the time, tell time accurately, and talk about daily schedules with confidence.
Core Concepts
- Telling time in Spanish uses the verb ser (es/son) and the preposition a la(s) for "at."
- Hours 1–12 are stated; for 1:00 use es la, for others use son las.
- Minutes can be stated directly (e.g., "tres y diez") or using menos (e.g., "cuatro menos cinco").
- Special expressions: y cuarto (quarter past), y media (half past), en punto (on the dot).
Son las tres ___ cinco.
How do you express 'five minutes past three' in Spanish? (Use es/son, hour, y, and the number for minutes)
y
'Y' is used to add minutes after the hour (e.g., 'tres y cinco'). 'Menos' is for subtracting minutes.
Son las seis menos diez significa que son las __ __ __.
What does 'menos diez' mean in Spanish time expressions?
cinco cincuenta
'Menos diez' means 'ten minutes to' the next hour; 'seis menos diez' is 5:50.
Core Concepts
- Es la / Son las: Use es la for 1:00 and son las for all other hours.
- Using y / menos: Add minutes after the hour with y (and) or subtract using menos (minus).
- Special terms: y cuarto (quarter past), y media (half past), en punto (exactly/on the dot).
- Asking the time: Use ¿Qué hora es? or ¿Tienes hora?
- -hour vs. 12-hour: Spoken Spanish typically uses 12-hour time with de la mañana/tarde/noche for AM/PM.
Son las tres ___ cinco.
How do you express 'five minutes past three' in Spanish? (Use es/son, hour, y, and the number for minutes)
y
'Y' is used to add minutes after the hour (e.g., 'tres y cinco'). 'Menos' is for subtracting minutes.
Son las seis menos diez significa que son las __ __ __.
What does 'menos diez' mean in Spanish time expressions?
cinco cincuenta
'Menos diez' means 'ten minutes to' the next hour; 'seis menos diez' is 5:50.
Pronunciation Tips
- The letter r is rolled or tapped, especially in cuarto and menos.
- The s is pronounced clearly in most Spanish dialects (e.g., son las, menos).
- y between numbers sounds like “ee” (e.g., tres y diez).
- In rapid speech, son las may sound like “solas.”
- Numbers stress: cuár-to, me-nos, die-z, cían-co.
In rapid speech, how might 'son las' sound in Spanish?
solas
Native speakers often blend 'son las' into a sound like 'solas' in fast, natural speech.
Asking for the Time
Knowing how to ask for the time is the first step in any conversation about schedules.
- ¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
- ¿Tienes hora? – Do you have the time?
- ¿Me puedes decir la hora? – Can you tell me the time?
- ¿A qué hora...? – At what time...?
- ¿Qué hora tienes? – What time do you have?
How do you ask 'At what time...?' in Spanish?
¿A qué hora...?
'¿A qué hora...?' is used to ask about a specific time when something occurs.
Sample Dialog
A: ¿Qué hora es?
B: Son las tres y cuarto.
A: Perfecto, tengo que salir a las tres y media.
B: ¡No llegues tarde!
Vocabulary Tables
Telling Time Vocabulary
| Spanish Word/Phrase | English Equivalent | Example in Spanish | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| es la una | it’s one o’clock | Es la una en punto. | It’s one o’clock on the dot. |
| son las dos | it’s two o’clock | Son las dos de la tarde. | It’s two in the afternoon. |
| y cinco | and five (minutes) | Son las tres y cinco. | It’s five past three. |
| y cuarto | quarter past | Son las cuatro y cuarto. | It’s quarter past four. |
| y media | half past | Son las cinco y media. | It’s half past five. |
| menos diez | ten minutes to | Son las seis menos diez. | It’s ten to six. |
| en punto | exactly/on the dot | La reunión es a las siete en punto. | The meeting is at seven sharp. |
| de la mañana | in the morning | Estudio de la mañana. | I study in the morning. |
| de la tarde | in the afternoon | Trabajo de la tarde. | I work in the afternoon. |
| de la noche | at night | Salgo de la noche. | I go out at night. |
Question Words for Time
| Spanish Word/Phrase | English Equivalent | Example in Spanish | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué hora es? | What time is it? | ¿Qué hora es ahora? | What time is it now? |
| ¿Tienes hora? | Do you have the time? | ¿Tienes hora, por favor? | Do you have the time, please? |
| ¿Me puedes decir la hora? | Can you tell me the time? | ¿Me puedes decir la hora exacta? | Can you tell me the exact time? |
| ¿A qué hora...? | At what time...? | ¿A qué hora llegas? | At what time do you arrive? |
| ¿Qué hora tienes? | What time do you have? | ¿Qué hora tienes en tu reloj? | What time does your watch say? |
Common Time Expressions
| Spanish Phrase | English Equivalent | Example in Spanish | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| a tiempo | on time | Siempre llego a tiempo. | I always arrive on time. |
| tarde | late | Llegué tarde a la reunión. | I arrived late to the meeting. |
| temprano | early | Me levanté temprano hoy. | I woke up early today. |
| a tiempo | on time | La clase empieza a tiempo. | The class starts on time. |
| justo a tiempo | just in time | Llegué justo a tiempo. | I arrived just in time. |
| a la hora | at the time | Salimos a la hora convenida. | We left at the agreed time. |
Summary
Mastering Spanish time vocabulary involves:
- Using es la for 1:00 and son las for other hours.
- Adding minutes with y or subtracting with menos.
- Using special terms like y cuarto, y media, and en punto.
- Asking for the time with common questions.
- Indicating AM/PM with de la mañana/tarde/noche.
With these building blocks, you can confidently tell time and participate in everyday conversations in Spanish.
Flashcards (1 of 21)
- English Equivalent: it’s one o’clock
- English Translation: It’s one o’clock on the dot.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
