Telling Time in Spanish
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Telling Time in Spanish

Did You Know

It's Plural From 2 Onwards

Es la una (It's one). But: Son las dos, Son las tres. 'Es' for 1:00 only, 'Son las' for everything else. Most learners get this wrong for months.

Key Stat 3 Words Do All the Work

Media (half), cuarto (quarter), menos (minus/to). Son las tres y media (3:30). Son las cuatro menos cuarto (3:45). Three words, infinite time combinations.

Key Point

The Formula Is Simple

Son las [hour] y [minutes]. Son las dos y veinte = 2:20. Son las cinco y cinco = 5:05. Add 'menos' for minutes before the hour: Son las tres menos diez = 2:50.

★ Pro Tip

Use 'en punto' for Exact Hours

Son las ocho en punto = It's exactly 8 o'clock. This phrase signals precision - perfect for meetings, appointments, and making a good impression.

Key Point

Asking the Time

Que hora es? (What time is it?) Tiene la hora? (Do you have the time?) A que hora...? (At what time...?) These three questions get you through any situation.

Q & A

Does Spain Use 24-Hour Time?

Yes, official Spain uses 24-hour time for transport, medicine, and formal contexts. Everyday speech uses 12-hour time with de la manana/tarde/noche for AM/PM.

Key Stat 5 Time Expressions Used Daily

Ahora (now). Pronto (soon). Tarde (late). Temprano (early). Luego (later). Master these 5 words and you can navigate any time-related conversation.

★ Pro Tip

Morning, Afternoon, Night

De la manana (morning, AM). De la tarde (afternoon, roughly 2-8pm). De la noche (evening/night). Always use these with clock times: Son las tres de la tarde.

Key Point

Common Time Phrases

A mediodia (at noon). A medianoche (at midnight). Hace un momento (a moment ago). En seguida (right away). Dentro de un rato (in a little while).

Key Point

Practice With Real Schedules

Read Spanish bus, train, or cinema timetables daily. Real schedules force you to process times fast. 10 minutes of timetable reading beats 1 hour of drills.

Keep Reading

Tell Time Like a Native

Full guide with 50+ time expressions, the complete formula for every minute of the day, and real-life dialogues to practice instantly.

Read Full Article →