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Ever marvel methods to inform the time in Spanish? That is tremendous essential as a result of Spanish-speaking cultures typically function on very completely different schedules than the remainder of the world – suppose taking a protracted siesta over lunch break and dinner beginning at 9 or 10 pm!
So make no assumptions about time in Spanish-speaking nations. Earlier than you do something, ensure you clearly perceive what time issues happent. Fortunately, I’m right here that can assist you as each your language and cultural information.
On this article, I’ll train you the next phrases and extra:
- ¿Qué hora es? (“What time is it?”)
- Es/Son… (“It’s … o’clock.”)
- Es la una y media. (“It’s 1:30.”)
- Son las diez de la mañana. (“It’s 10:00 am.”)
- Son las ocho de la noche. (“It’s 8:00 pm.”)
- Como a la una. (“I eat at 1:00.”)
- ¿A qué hora te acuestas? (“What time do you go to mattress?”)
And only a fast bit about me earlier than we get caught in: I’m a globe-trotting American who has spent most of my grownup life abroad. I’m a language trainer and author, and I’ve spent over 5 years learning Spanish.
Let’s get began!
The Fundamentals of Telling Time in Spanish: What to Know First
First, let’s perform a little prep so we are able to say the time in Spanish like a professional.
If you understand how to depend from 1 to 59, you’ll have the ability to grasp methods to say the time in Spanish. (And in case you haven’t carried out so but, take a look at our article all about counting in Spanish!) However in case you’re not fairly there but, you’ll be able to say so much by simply studying 1 by way of 12 for now.
We can even be utilizing the verb “to be” (ser) in Spanish. We’ve got extra particulars about it in our article about Spanish irregular verbs, however what you’ll want to know is that this: within the current tense, we’ll use es (“[it] is”) and son (“[they] are”). Why? I’ll clarify that subsequent!
Find out how to Ask and Reply “What Time Is It?” in Spanish
The commonest solution to ask for the time in Spanish is by asking ¿Qué hora es?, which implies, “What time is it?” Easy! Now let’s take a look at methods to reply this query.
Find out how to Reply ¿Qué Hora Es?: “What Time Is It?”
Now, to reply “What time is it” in Spanish, we are going to begin our sentence with both es or son. How are you aware which one to make use of?
Simple! If it’s within the one o’clock vary, you employ the singular es. If it’s two o’clock or later, you employ the plural son.
Then we add la (within the case of “one o’clock”) or las (for “two o’clock or later) plus the quantity.
So in different phrases:
- “It’s one o’clock” = Es la una.
- “It’s two o’clock” = Son las dos.
- “It’s three o’clock” = Son las tres.
- “It’s 4 o’clock” = Son las cuatro.
- “It’s 5 o’clock” = Son las cinco.
- “It’s six o’clock” = Son las seis.
- “It’s seven o’clock” = Son las siete.
- “It’s eight o’clock” = Son las ocho.
- “It’s 9 o’clock” = Son las nueve.
- “It’s ten o’clock” = Son las diez.
- “It’s eleven o’clock” = Son las as soon as.
- “It’s twelve o’clock” = Son las doce.
Now, Spanish doesn’t have an “am” and “pm” system. As a substitute, it specifies the time of day with the next 4 phrases:
- de la mañana = “within the morning.” This technically is for any time earlier than midday, however is commonly used for any time earlier than lunch (which is likely to be a bit later).
- de la tarde = “within the afternoon.” Use this for instances within the afternoon however earlier than dusk, roughly between 12:00 pm to six:00 pm.
- de la noche = “at night time.” Use this for many instances within the night or night time, roughly between 6:00 pm to 12:00 am. (Observe that what constitutes noche vs. tarde could differ throughout areas and cultural contexts.)
- de la madrugada = “in the course of the night time.” We don’t have this precise expression in English, nevertheless it’s for the small hours very late at night time or very early within the morning. (Helpful in case you go partying or clubbing, or else if you wish to yell at somebody for calling you at 2:00 am!)
So for instance, to say “It’s ten o’clock am,” you’d say Son las diez de la mañana. However, to say “It’s eight o’clock pm,” you’d say Son las ocho de la noche. And in case your ex calls you to let you know they miss you at one am? ¡Es la una de la madrugada!
By the way in which, Spanish additionally has phrases for “midday” or “noon” (mediodía) and “midnight” (medianoche).
Observe that generally Spanish makes use of the 24-hour clock – or in case you’re American like me, you may know this as “army time.” So every so often, you’ll hear or see issues like “13 o’clock.” This follows the identical sample because the above. We’ll put a pin on this for now however don’t fear. I’ll go into extra element about this in only a bit.
Particular Occasions and Time Expressions in Spanish
Okay, so we’ve lined the fundamental hours, however how do you say particular instances in Spanish? In spite of everything, time isn’t all the time spot on the hour!
That is simple! To point minutes, simply add y and the variety of minutes.
For instance, 6:05 could be las seis y cinco. 12:36 could be las doce y treinta y seis.
Observe that some individuals could substitute y (“and”) with con (“with”) or fully omit this phrase! So 9:10 might be las nueve y diez or las nueve con diez, or las nueve diez. This may increasingly depend upon the dialect of Spanish being spoken or private choice. However utilizing y is essentially the most broadly understood and used model of this sentence.
Now, when the time hits 15-minute increments, issues typically change a bit:
- If it’s a “quarter previous” the hour (in different phrases, quarter-hour previous), use the phrase y cuarto. This implies “and 1 / 4.” So 4:15 could be las cuatro y cuarto. (I do know, it’s a little bit of a tongue tornado!)
- If it’s “half previous” the hour (in different phrases, half-hour previous) use the phrase y media. This implies “and half.” So 1:30 could be la una y media.
- If it’s “quarter until” the subsequent hour (in different phrases, 45 minutes previous), use the upcoming hour and add menos cuarto (“minus 1 / 4”). So 6:45 could be las siete menos cuarto (7:00 minus 1 / 4).
Now, it’s doable to make use of the time y quince (:15), y treinta (:30), and y cuarenta y cinco (__:45). Utilizing y media is particularly widespread, however which system you employ could depend upon private and regional references, identical to as in English.
Additionally, you should utilize menos flexibly with different expressions, too. For instance, for 9:55, you’ll be able to say las diez menos cinco.
By the way in which, listed below are a pair extra helpful phrases to be extra particular concerning the time:
- en punto = “precisely,” “on the dot,” or “sharp” (Son las tres en punto = “It’s 3:00 precisely.”)
- más o menos = “kind of,” “about” (Es la una y cuarto, más o menos = “It’s about 1:15.”)
- y pico = “simply after” or “simply previous” (Son las as soon as y pico = “It’s simply after 11:00.”) Observe this can be a very colloquial phrase.
Saying When Issues Occur in Spanish
Okay, so we’ve lined methods to learn the clock. And so what about once you wish to speak about what time sure issues occur? For instance, how do you say, “I eat at 1:00”?
On this case, simply add a (“at”) and the time with the article la or las. So on this sentence, you’d say, Como a la una.
Right here’s an instance of an enormous lunch you may eat in Spain!
This goes for questions as properly. To ask, “What time do you go to mattress?”, you’d use ¿A qué hora te acuestas? (casual) or ¿A qué hora se acuesta? (formal). This interprets actually into “At what time do you go to mattress?”
Now, to speak about whether or not one thing occurs within the am or pm, we are able to use the identical 4 phrases above. However you’ll typically hear Spanish audio system substitute de with por. Why? Let me clarify.
For instance, in case you’re on the night time shift, to say, “We work at 3:00 am,” you would say both Trabajamos a las tres de la madrugada or Trabajamos a las tres por la madrugada. There may be only a delicate distinction in that means. de emphasizes the precise time, whereas por implies a length. So the previous sentence is precise concerning the time (most likely implying that work begins at 3:00 am), whereas the latter emphasizes the length extending into 3:00 am.
Why, When, and Find out how to Use the 24-Hour Clock in Spanish
As I discussed, generally Spanish makes use of the 24-hour clock, and that is extra typically used once you write time in Spanish. You’ll see this in written or formal Spanish, corresponding to in official paperwork, schedules, and timetables.
For instance, Spanish may use this methodology when making bulletins on public transportation or declaring occasion instances. This may increasingly really feel international to our readers from america however maybe extra acquainted to any British or European readers.
In fact in spoken Spanish, we’ll use the 12-hour clock mostly. However it’s nonetheless doable to say the time utilizing the 24-hour system. Subsequently, it will go slightly one thing like this:
- “It’s 13 o’clock” = Son las trece. (13:00 = 1:00 pm)
- “It’s fourteen o’clock” = Son las catorce. (14:00 = 2:00 pm)
- “It’s fifteen o’clock” = Son las quince. (15:00 = 3:00 pm)
- “It’s sixteen o’clock” = Son las dieciséis. (16:00 = 4:00 pm)
- “It’s seventeen o’clock” = Son las diecisiete. (17:00 = 5:00 pm)
- “It’s eighteen o’clock” = Son las dieciocho. (18:00 = 6:00 pm)
- “It’s nineteen o’clock” = Son las diecinueve. (19:00 = 7:00 pm)
- “It’s twenty o’clock” = Son las veinte. (20:00 = 8:00 pm)
- “It’s twenty-one o’clock” = Son las veintiuno. (21:00 = 9:00 pm)
- “It’s twenty-two o’clock” = Son las veintidós. (22:00 = 10:00 pm)
- “It’s twenty-three o’clock” = Son las veintitrés. (23:00 = 11:00 pm)
- “It’s twenty-four o’clock” = Son las veinticuatro. (24:00 = 12:00 am)
For instance, once you take a look at the timetable to e book a prepare from Madrid to Toledo (an exquisite day journey, by the way in which!) on Renfe, you’ll discover they use the 24-hour clock!
So once you purchase your Spanish prepare ticket, ensure you’re cautious. If not, you may unintentionally find yourself on the station considering you permit at 3:00 as an alternative of 13:00!
Understanding Ser and the Grammar in Spanish Time
There are two issues price noticing about ser when utilizing telling time in Spanish. And understanding these grammar factors will push your Spanish comprehension as much as the subsequent stage!
First, remember the fact that once you ask, “What time is it?” you don’t use the plural type of the verb ser. That is true even when you understand it’s two o’clock or later. It is because ¿Qué hora es? actually means “What hour is it?” (It could sound foolish to ask “What hours are they?” even in English!)
Second, in case you’re on the stage the place you’re studying concerning the variations between ser and estar, chances are you’ll be questioning why we don’t use estar. “Wait a minute, isn’t ser used for everlasting issues, and estar for short-term issues? Why don’t we use estar because the time modifications always?”
It’s an incredible query! Although Spanish doesn’t normally use estar with everlasting states, time is the exception. Presumably, Spanish audio system view time as a everlasting and steady state. In any case, it’s a linguistic conference that has been in place for a very long time.
However don’t fear an excessive amount of about this. We’ve got an incredible acronym (DOCTOR, anybody?) that can assist you keep in mind this in our article all about when to make use of ser and estar! In case you’re prepared for it, positively test it out!
Spanish Time and Cultural Variations
Hispanic tradition is known for its notion of time in comparison with many Anglophone cultures! Listed below are just a few key variations, though there is likely to be some variance relying on whether or not you’re in an city or rural space.
Punctuality is Considerably Relaxed
Within the US and UK for instance, punctuality is valued. Being on time reveals respect for the opposite particular person’s time. Nonetheless, in lots of Spanish-speaking cultures, this doesn’t all the time maintain true. Being “on time” is extra versatile. The concept of sticking to deliberate schedules for utmost administration effectivity isn’t as enticing. It’s not unusual for occasions and conferences to start out later than the scheduled time.
However watch out – that is normally true when individuals are assembly one another. When you’ve got a prepare to catch, ensure you’re on time!
Meal Occasions Begin Later
In lots of Spanish-speaking nations, meals – particularly dinner – typically begin later than within the US and UK. It’s not unusual for dinner to start out wherever between 8:00 to 10:00 pm in Hispanic tradition! Nonetheless, lunch is normally the largest meal in these cultures, so dinner is way lighter than in lots of English-speaking nations.
I simply met somebody from Argentina who advised me she doesn’t ship her children to mattress till midnight – most likely as a result of they don’t eat dinner till 10:00 pm!
Lunch can also be typically comparatively late, typically beginning between 1:00 to three:00 pm. That is additionally linked to siesta tradition, wherein companies may shut for just a few hours after lunch. Workers typically take lengthy lunches (in comparison with the 30 or 60 minutes widespread in US tradition).
This may be seen as a blessing or a curse. Whereas taking a few hours to digest a protracted lunch is likely to be nice for some individuals, a Spanish buddy I met in Spain felt burdened by this. Since most companies had been additionally closed at the moment, he couldn’t do any errands, and since lunches ran late, the tip of working hours did too!
Telling Spanish Time Like a Professional!
Now that you understand all of the ins and outs of telling time in Spanish, you’ll by no means get confused once more! With only a few widespread phrases, you’ll be able to speak about all kinds of instances and make all kinds of plans. So have enjoyable, and hasta luego (so long)!
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