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In this lesson, we will focus on how to express 12-hour clock times, and how to say half past, quarter to/past ...
How to ask what time it is in Spanish
Look at these examples to learn how to say:
- it is [time] o'clock:
Note how for one o'clock we use "es" (it is...) but for numbers other than "one" we use "son" (it is...).
We also say "es" for midnight and noon:
- it is half past [hour]
Note for "half past [hour]" you add "y media".
- it is quarter past / quarter to [hour]
To express quarter past and quarter to, you add "y cuarto" (past) or "menos cuarto" (literally minus quarter) after the hour.
- it is [minutes] past [hour]
To express [minutes] past [hour], add "y [number of minutes]" after the hour.
- it is [minutes] to [hour]
To express [minutes] to [hour], add "menos [number of minutes]" after the hour.
Important
In all the examples above see how we also use "la" for one and "las" for any other number.
It'd be incorrect to say:
"Es las una y media."
"Son la cinco y cuarto."
Remember:
en punto (o'clock)
y cuarto (quarter past)
menos cuarto (quarter to)
y media (half past)
y [minutos] (minutes past)
menos [minutos] (minutes to)
See also Using A + la/las + [time] to say at what time something takes place in Spanish
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