Telling the Time (¿Qué hora es?)
Ask and tell the time in Spanish. Es la una, son las dos, y media, y cuarto, menos cuarto.
A lesson of Spanish A1 — Beginner, in Numbers & Time, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask and tell the time in Spanish, including hours, half-hours, and quarter-hours.
Asking the Time
¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?
Hours: The Core Rule
| Time | Spanish | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | Es la una. | Es la + feminine article |
| 2:00 | Son las dos. | Son las + number |
| 3:00 | Son las tres. | Son las + number |
| 12:00 | Son las doce. | Son las + number |
The critical rule:
- 1 o'clock → Es la una (singular, feminine — una hora)
- All other hours → Son las [number] (plural, feminine)
Son = they are (plural of es). Las = the (feminine plural). Time uses feminine because hora (hour) is feminine.
Minutes: Half and Quarter
| Expression | Spanish |
|---|---|
| :30 (half past) | y media |
| :15 (quarter past) | y cuarto |
| :45 (quarter to) | menos cuarto |
Examples:
- 3:30 → Son las tres y media — It's half past three
- 5:15 → Son las cinco y cuarto — It's quarter past five
- 7:45 → Son las ocho menos cuarto — It's quarter to eight
Key: For "quarter to," you say the NEXT hour menos (minus) a quarter.
Adding Minutes
For specific minutes: Son las [hour] y [minutes]
- 4:10 → Son las cuatro y diez
- 6:25 → Son las seis y veinticinco
- 9:50 → Son las diez menos diez (ten to ten)
For minutes 31–59, Spanish speakers often use the "next hour minus" construction: