MFLE

Time, date, numbers and weather

Photo of a large white clock face with black numerals and red hands

Time

To say 'What time is it?' you would say '¿Qué hora es?'

To say the time, use:

  • 'es la' followed by the number for one o'clock
  • 'son las' for followed by the number for any time from 2 o'clock to 12 o'clock.

For example:

  • 'es la una' - 'it's one o'clock'
  • 'son las dos' - 'it's two o'clock'
  • 'son las ocho' - 'it's eight o'clock'

Note - It is always 'la' or 'las' because 'la hora' is feminine.

Expressions of time

For 'quarter past', use the hour plus 'y cuarto' (literally 'and a quarter').

For example: 'Son las cinco y cuarto.' - 'It's quarter pas five.'

For 'half past', use the hour plus 'y media' (literally 'and a half').

For example: 'Es la una y media.' - 'It's half past one.'

For 'quarter to', use the hour plus 'menos cuarto' (literally 'minus a quarter').

For example: 'Son las nueve menos cuarto.' - 'It's quarter to nine.'

To indicate am and pm, use 'de la mañana', 'de la tarde'/'de la noche'.

Here are some common expressions relating to time.

Spanish expressionEnglish translation
¿A qué hora?At what time?
¿A qué hora vas a la escuela?When do you go to school?
A las nueve de la mañana.At 9 am.
¿A qué hora tomas la cena?When do you have dinner?
A las seis de la tarde.At 6 pm.

Examples of times in Spanish

Spanish timeEnglish translation
Son las dos y cincoFive past two
Son las dos y diezTen past two
Son las dos y veinteTwenty past two
Son las dos y veinticincoTwenty-five past two
Son las dos menos veinticincoTwenty-five to two
Son las dos menos veinteTwenty to two
Son las dos menos diezTen to two
Son las dos menos cincoFive to two