Spanish Time Telling Guide

Overview

This lecture explains how to ask and tell time in Spanish, including questions, basic structures, and common time expressions.

Asking for the Time

• To ask for the time in Spanish, say: ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)

Telling the Time: Basic Structures

• For one o’clock, use: Es la una (It's one).
• For all other hours, use: Son las + [hour] (e.g., Son las dos – It's two).
• Continue this pattern for hours three through twelve (e.g., Son las tres, Son las cuatro, etc.).

Minutes and Precision

• En punto means "o'clock" (e.g., Es la una en punto - It's one o'clock).
• Add minutes with y + [minutes] (e.g., Es la una y cinco - It's 1:05).
• Cuarto means "quarter" (e.g., Es la una y cuarto - It's 1:15).
• Media means "half" (e.g., Es la una y media - It's 1:30).

Expressing Time to the Hour

• Para means "till" (Es un cuarto para las dos - It's a quarter till two).
• Menos means "minus" (Son las dos menos cuarto - It's 1:45).
• This structure is commonly used in Spain.

Time Expressions: Morning, Afternoon, Night

• De la mañana = in the morning (e.g., Son las ocho en punto de la mañana).
• De la tarde = in the afternoon (e.g., Es la una en punto de la tarde).
• De la noche = at night (e.g., Son las siete y media de la noche).

Asking and Stating Specific Times for Activities

• Use ¿A qué hora...? to ask "At what time...?" (e.g., ¿A qué hora vas a la escuela?).
• Answer with "A la..." for one, "A las..." for other hours (e.g., A la una, A las siete).
• Add time of day expressions as needed (e.g., A las siete de la mañana).

Key Terms & Definitions

• ¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?
• Es la — It is (used with one o’clock).
• Son las — It is (used with hours two and up).
• En punto — o'clock.
• Y — and (used to add minutes).
• Cuarto — quarter (15 minutes).
• Media — half (30 minutes).
• Para/Menos — till/minus (used for time before the hour).
• De la mañana/tarde/noche — in the morning/afternoon/at night.
• ¿A qué hora...? — At what time...?
• A la/A las — At (used for telling when something happens).

Action Items / Next Steps

• Practice saying the time using different structures and expressions.
• Add time of day (mañana, tarde, noche) in your practice sentences.