Spanish La Hora

Decir La Hora en Espanol

To Tell Time in Spanish

La Maestra de Espanol :

Silva Jackson-Henderson

One O'Clock

• es + la + una (+ number of minutes)

• es + la + una (+ y + number of minutes)

• es + la + una (+ con + number of minutes)

One O'Clock (FYI)

(1) es + la + una (+ number of minutes)

Es la una treinta.

It's one thirty.

(2) es + la + una (+ y + number of minutes)

Es la una y veinte.

It's one twenty.

(3) es + la + una (+ con + number of minutes)

Es la una con cuarenta.

It's one forty.

This formula can be used to say It's (# of minutes) until/'til (a certain hour).

es + la + una + menos + number of minutes

EXAMPLE: la una menos diez.

It's ten 'til one.

From Two to Twelve

• son + las + number from two to twelve (+ number of minutes)

• son + las + number from two to twelve (+ y + number of minutes)

• son + las + number from two to twelve (+ con + number of minutes)

(1) son + las + number from two to twelve (+ number of minutes)

Example: Son las tres diez.

It is three ten.

(2) son + las + number from two to twelve (+ y + number of minutes)

Example: Son las nueve y veintinueve.

It is nine twenty-nine.

(3) son + las + number from two to twelve (+ con + number of minutes)

Example: Son las diez con diez.

It is ten ten.

This formula can be used to say It's (# of minutes) until/'til (a certain hour).

son + las + number from two to twelve + menos + number of minutes

EXAMPLE: on las once menos cinco.

It's five to eleven

Media y Cuarto:

To indicate that it's half past the hour in Spanish, use the phrase y media.

To indicate that it's a quarter past the hour, use the phrase y cuarto.

To indicate that it's a quarter 'til the hour, use the phrase menos cuarto.

EXAMPLE: Son las diez y media.

It's ten thirty.

Es la una y cuarto.

It is one fifteen. or It is a quarter after one.

Son las cinco menos cuarto.

It's a quarter 'til five

Other Useful Time Expressions:

• de la madrugada (in the (early) morning or in the wee hours)

• de la mañana (in the morning)

• de la tarde (in the afternoon)

• de la noche (in the evening or at night)

• en punto (on the dot)

• más o menos (around)

• medianoche (midnight) mediodía (noon)

Examples:

Son las dos de la madrugada. 

It's two in the morning.

¿Qué hora es? -

What time is it?

Es la una de la tarde.

It's one in the afternoon.

¿Me podría decir la hora? -

Could you tell me the time? -

Son las siete de la noche

It's seven p.m.

Examples:

Son las cuatro y diez en punto.

It's four ten on the dot.

Son las nueve más o menos.

It's around nine o’clock.

¿Es medianoche o mediodía? -

Is it midnight or noon?

¿Qué? ¿Que no ves la luna?

What? Don't you see the moon?

_________________________________