What Time Is It? Mastering Spanish Time-Telling

Learning to tell time in a new language is a crucial skill for travel, communication, and daily life. This week, we're diving deep into how to say what time in Spanish, covering everything from basic phrases to nuanced expressions. Whether you're planning a trip to Spain or simply expanding your language skills, this comprehensive guide will help you become a time-telling pro in no time!

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Asking the Question

The most basic way to ask "What time is it?" in Spanish is:

  • ?Que hora es? (pronounced: keh O-rah ess)

This is your go-to phrase for any situation. It's direct, universally understood, and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Other variations include:

  • ?Me puedes decir la hora? (pronounced: meh PWEH-dess deh-SEER lah O-rah) - Can you tell me the time? (More polite)
  • ?Tienes hora? (pronounced: tee-EH-ness O-rah) - Do you have the time? (Informal)

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: The Basic Structure

The response to "What time is it?" usually starts with:

  • Es la... (pronounced: ess lah...) - It is... (used for one o'clock)
  • Son las... (pronounced: son las...) - It is... (used for all other hours)

Then, you add the hour. For example:

  • Es la una. (pronounced: ess lah OO-nah) - It's one o'clock.
  • Son las dos. (pronounced: son las dohs) - It's two o'clock.
  • Son las tres. (pronounced: son las trehs) - It's three o'clock.

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Adding Minutes

To specify the minutes, you simply add "y" (and) followed by the number of minutes:

  • Son las dos y cinco. (pronounced: son las dohs ee SEEN-koh) - It's two oh five (2:05).
  • Son las tres y quince. (pronounced: son las trehs ee KEEN-seh) - It's three fifteen (3:15). You can also say Son las tres y cuarto. (cuarto = quarter)

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Common Time Expressions

Here are some common expressions to refine your time-telling skills:

  • y media (pronounced: ee MEH-dee-ah) - and a half (30 minutes after the hour)

    • Son las cuatro y media. (pronounced: son las KWAH-troh ee MEH-dee-ah) - It's four thirty (4:30).

  • menos cuarto (pronounced: MEH-nohs KWAHR-toh) - quarter to (15 minutes before the hour)

    • Son las cinco menos cuarto. (pronounced: son las SEEN-koh MEH-nohs KWAHR-toh) - It's quarter to five (4:45).

  • en punto (pronounced: en POON-toh) - on the dot, sharp

    • Son las seis en punto. (pronounced: son las seis en POON-toh) - It's six o'clock sharp (6:00).

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Using AM and PM

To differentiate between AM and PM, you can use these phrases:

  • de la manana (pronounced: deh lah mah-NYAH-nah) - in the morning (AM)

    • Son las ocho de la manana. (pronounced: son las O-choh deh lah mah-NYAH-nah) - It's eight in the morning (8:00 AM).

  • de la tarde (pronounced: deh lah TAR-deh) - in the afternoon/evening (PM, generally until sunset)

    • Son las cuatro de la tarde. (pronounced: son las KWAH-troh deh lah TAR-deh) - It's four in the afternoon (4:00 PM).

  • de la noche (pronounced: deh lah NO-cheh) - at night (PM, after sunset)

    • Son las diez de la noche. (pronounced: son las dee-EHS deh lah NO-cheh) - It's ten at night (10:00 PM).

Example:

Someone asks: "?Que hora es?"

You respond: "Son las siete de la manana y veinte." (It's seven twenty AM).

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Practice Scenarios

Here are some scenarios to practice telling time in Spanish:

  • Scenario 1: You need to catch a bus that leaves at 9:45 AM. Ask someone the time and confirm it.

    • You: "?Perdon, que hora es?"
    • Them: "Son las nueve y media." (It's nine thirty.)
    • You: "Gracias. ?Y a que hora sale el autobus?" (Thanks. And what time does the bus leave?)

  • Scenario 2: You're meeting a friend for dinner at 7:00 PM. Remind them of the time.

    • You: "Recuerda, nos vemos a las siete de la noche." (Remember, we're meeting at seven at night.)

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting "Es la" vs. "Son las": Remember to use "Es la" for one o'clock and "Son las" for all other hours.
  • Direct Translation: Avoid directly translating time expressions from English. "Half past" doesn't directly translate to "media pasada." Use "y media."
  • Confusion with Afternoon/Evening: Knowing when to use "de la tarde" vs. "de la noche" can be tricky. Consider the sunset as your guide.

How Do You Say What Time in Spanish?: Cultural Notes

In many Spanish-speaking countries, punctuality is viewed differently than in some English-speaking cultures. Being a few minutes late is often acceptable, especially in social situations. However, for business meetings and formal appointments, it's best to arrive on time.

There are no celebrities that directly teach "how do you say what time in spanish".

Summary Question and Answer:

Q: How do you ask "What time is it?" in Spanish? A: The most common way is "?Que hora es?".

Keywords: How do you say what time in spanish, Spanish time, telling time in Spanish, ?Que hora es?, learning Spanish, Spanish phrases, Spanish vocabulary, time expressions, AM/PM in Spanish, Spanish culture.