Telling Time In Spanish

Beginning Spanish: A basic course in the Spanish language


 
Here are a few Spanish words and phrases that related to the time:

    la hora   the hour, the time
     
    ¿Qué hora es?   What time is it?
     
    cuarto   a quarter (after or before)
     
    media   half past the hour
     
    de la mañana   AM (in the morning)
     
    de la tarde   PM (in the afternoon)
     
    de la noche   PM (in the evening)
     
    Es el mediodía.   It is 12:00 noon.
     
    Es la medianoche.   It is midnight.
     
    ¿A qué hora es la clase?   What time is the class?

In Spanish, we divide the clock in half. During the first 30 minutes after the hour, give the hour just past, then y (and), followed by the number of minutes.

If the time is between 1:00 and 1:30, precede the time with es la. If it is after 1:30, precede the time with son las.

Examples:
    It's 2:15 in the afternoon.
    Son las dos y cuarto de la tarde. 

    It's 1:00 in the morning.
    Es la una de la mañana. 

    It's noon.
    Es el mediodía. 

    It's 5:30.
    Son las cinco y media. 

    It's 10 minutes till 8 in the evening.
    Son las ocho menos diez del la noche.

    It's 20 minutes till 12.
    Son las doce menos veinte.

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