How to Say What Time in Spanish - Spanish Language

When learning a new language, one of the first practical things you may want to know is telling the time. If you're interested in the Spanish language, understanding how to say what time it is can be incredibly useful. Not only does it enhance your communication skills, but it also enriches your immersion into the culture. Let's explore how to express time in Spanish, focusing on the phrase 'How to say what time in Spanish - Spanish language' and all the nuances involved.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the specifics of telling time, it's fundamental to understand some basics of Spanish numbers. Numbers form the backbone of saying what time it is, and in Spanish, number pronunciation plays a key role. For reference, here are the Spanish numbers from one to twelve:

1 - Uno
2 - Dos
3 - Tres
4 - Cuatro
5 - Cinco
6 - Seis
7 - Siete
8 - Ocho
9 - Nueve
10 - Diez
11 - Once
12 - Doce

Common Phrases for Telling Time

Now that you're acquainted with the numbers, let's focus on common phrases used for telling time in Spanish. The structure typically involves "Es la" for one o'clock and "Son las" for all other hours. For example, "Es la una" means "It's one o'clock," and "Son las dos" means "It's two o'clock."

When you continue beyond the hour, such as 2:30, the phrase becomes "Son las dos y media," which translates to "It's two thirty." Here are some more expressions you might find helpful:

Es la una y cuarto - It's one fifteen.
Son las tres y quince - It's three fifteen.
Son las cinco menos diez - It's ten to five.
Es mediodía - It's noon.
Es medianoche - It's midnight.

The 24-Hour Clock and Specific Expressions

Spaniards and many Latin Americans often use the 24-hour clock format. Thus, understanding this format will be beneficial. In the 24-hour clock, saying something like 16:00 (4:00 PM) would be "Son las dieciséis." The key here is to always translate the first "digit" of the hour into its Spanish numeral counterpart.

Moreover, when asking what time it is, you can say "¿Qué hora es?" which translates to "What time is it?". On the other hand, if you want to ask at what time a specific event will occur, use "¿A qué hora?" followed by the event. For example, "¿A qué hora es la película?" means "What time is the movie?"

Guide Steps: How to Say What Time in Spanish - Spanish Language

Learn the Numbers: Familiarize yourself with numbers in Spanish, especially those between one and sixty.
Understand the Clock Formats: Grasp both the traditional 12-hour and the 24-hour formats which are often used in Spanish-speaking countries.
Study Common Time Expressions: Know phrases like 'y media' (half past) and 'menos' (to the hour).
Practice Telling Time: Try reading clocks in Spanish and practice pronouncing the times.
Use Interactive Tools: Take advantage of language apps and online quizzes to get better at saying time in Spanish.