Telling Time in Spanish

Telling Time Basics

• To inquire about the time in Spanish, ask ¿Qué hora es?
• Use es + la for one o'clock and son + las for all other hours.

Specific Time Expressions

• Es la una. - It's one o'clock.
• Son las dos. - It's two o'clock.
• Son las seis. - It's six o'clock.

Adding Minutes

• Express time beyond the hour by adding minutes:
  • Son las cuatro y cinco. - It's five minutes past four.
  • Son las once y veinte. - It's twenty past eleven.

Quarter Past the Hour

• To indicate fifteen minutes past the hour, use either y cuarto or y quince:
  • Es la una y cuarto. - It's a quarter past one.
  • Son las nueve y quince. - It's nine-fifteen.

Half Past the Hour

• For thirty minutes past the hour, use y media or y treinta:
  • Son las doce y media. - It's half past twelve.
  • Son las siete y treinta. - It's seven-thirty.