¿Qué hora es?
Here is some review information about telling time in Spanish for those who need a refresher:
Here is a detailed lesson from Studyspanish.com reminding you how to tell time in Spanish:
TELLING TIME
Notes:
- The written lesson is below.
- Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.
The verb ser is used to express the time of day. Use es when referring to “one o’clock” and use son when referring to all other hours.
Es la una.
It’s one o’clock.Son las dos.
It’s two o’clock.
The feminine article (la, las) is used before the hour because it refers to “la hora.”
Es la una.
It’s one o’clock.Son las dos.
It’s two o’clock.
Minutes can be added to the hour using the word y (and).
Es la una y cinco.
It’s five minutes past one.Son las tres y doce.
It’s twelve minutes past three.
Minutes can be subtracted from the hour using the word menos (less).
Es la una menos cinco.
It’s five minutes till one.Son las tres menos doce.
It’s twelve minutes till three.
You can also use the words media (half) and cuarto (quarter).
Es la una y media.
It’s half past one.Son las dos y cuarto.
It’s quarter past two.Son las tres menos cuarto.
It’s quarter till three.
To say something occurs at a specific time, use the formula a + la(s) + time.
La fiesta empieza a las nueve.
The party begins at nine o’clock.El banco abre a las ocho y media.
The bank opens at half past eight.
To differentiate between a.m. and p.m. use the expressions de la mañana, de la tarde and de la noche.
Son las dos de la tarde.
It’s two in the afternoon.Son las dos de la mañana.
It’s two in the morning.Son las diez de la noche.
It’s ten in the evening.
When no specific time is mentioned, use the expressions por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche.
Siempre leo el periódico por las mañanas.
I always read the newspaper in the morning.
Here are a number of useful time expressions:
- por la mañana
- in the morning (no specific time)
- de la mañana
- in the morning (specific time)
- por la tarde
- in the afternoon (no specific time)
- de la tarde
- in the afternoon (specific time)
- por la noche
- in the evening or night (no specific time)
- de la noche
- in the evening or night (specific time)
- la mañana
- morning
- el mañana
- morrow, future
- mañana por la mañana
- tomorrow morning
- pasado mañana
- the day after tomorrow
- ayer
- yesterday
- anoche
- last night
- la noche anterior, anteanoche
- the night before last
- el lunes que viene
- next Monday
- la semana que viene
- next week
- el año que viene
- next year
- el lunes pasado
- last Monday
- la semana pasada
- last week
- el año pasado
- last year
- al mediodía
- at noon
- a la medianoche
- at midnight
- alrededor de
- around
- de día
- days
- durante el día
- during the day
- a tiempo
- on time
- en punto
- exactly, on-the-dot
- tarde
- late
- temprano
- early
Source: https://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/time Links to an external site.
Here is a quizlet for these terms: https://quizlet.com/223069650/flashcards Links to an external site.
Here is a study image:
Here are videos with a detailed explanation and practice:
Telling time with "menos" in Spanish - Explanation (Basic)
Links to an external site.
Telling time in Spanish - Explanation (Basic)
Links to an external site.
Telling time with "menos" in Spanish - Practice #1 (Basic)
Links to an external site.
How to tell time in Spanish with BASHO & FRIENDS - ¿Qué hora es?
Links to an external site.
Student-made music video: