Learning how to tell the time in Spanish is an essential skill for anyone who wants to communicate effectively with Spanish speakers or travel to a Spanish-speaking country. In this guide, we will take you through the basics of telling the hour in Spanish, step by step. Let’s get started!

1. How to Describe the Hours

In Spanish, there are two main ways to describe the hours: the 12-hour clock format and the 24-hour clock format. Let’s see how they differ:

  • 12-Hour Clock Format: This format is similar to how the time is described in English. Use “am” for the morning hours (from 1 to 11) and “pm” for the afternoon and evening hours (from 12 to 11).
  • 24-Hour Clock Format: In this format, you simply state the hour using two digits without any am or pm indicators. The hours range from 0 to 23.

2. How to Ask for the Time

If you want to ask someone for the time in Spanish, you can use the following phrases:

  • Qué hora es? – What time is it?
  • Tienes hora? – Do you have the time?

Remember to adapt these questions to the appropriate level of formality depending on the situation!

3. How to Tell the Hour

Now, let’s see how to actually tell the time in Spanish:

  • Example 1: Son las tres – It is three o’clock. (When indicating the hours using the 12-hour clock format, use “es la” for 1 o’clock and “son las” for other hours.)
  • Example 2: Son las nueve y media – It is half-past nine. (For half-past, use “y media” after the hour number.)
  • Example 3: Es la una y cuarto – It is quarter-past one. (For quarter-past, use “y cuarto” after the hour number.)
  • Example 4: Son las cinco menos veinte – It is twenty minutes to five. (For minutes before the hour, use “menos” after the hour number and specify the number of minutes left to the next hour.)

4. Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when telling the time in Spanish:

  • Remember that Spanish speakers often use the 24-hour clock format for schedules or official appointments.
  • Use “de la mañana” for morning hours, “de la tarde” for afternoon hours, and “de la noche” for evening hours to specify the time of day.
  • Practice regularly with audio resources or native speakers to improve your pronunciation and comprehension of telling the time in Spanish.

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to say the time in Spanish, go ahead and practice with friends or Spanish language partners. With time and practice, you’ll become a pro at telling the hour in Spanish!

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