Telling the Time (It is...)
To state what time it is, use the verb ser alongside the feminine articles la or las (since the word hora, meaning "hour", is feminine).
- Use Es la for one o'clock (since one is singular).
- Use Son las for all other hours (two through twelve).
To specify that a time is exactly "on the dot," you can use the phrase en punto.
| It is ten o'clock on the dot. | Son las diez en punto. |
| I am tired because it is already midnight. | Estoy cansado porque ya es medianoche. |
Adding and Subtracting Minutes
To express time past the hour, use y (and) plus the number of minutes. For half-hours and quarter-hours, use media and cuarto.
| It is exactly a quarter past five. | Son exactamente las cinco y cuarto. |
Once you pass the half-hour mark, it is common to state the next hour and subtract the remaining minutes using menos (minus / to).
| It is already twenty to four. | Ya son las cuatro menos veinte. |
Saying "At" a Time
When talking about the time an event happens, use a la or a las instead of es la or son las.
| The appointment is at half past three. | La cita es a las tres y media. |
| The flight leaves at a quarter to eight. | El vuelo sale a las ocho menos cuarto. |
| The class ends at twelve on the dot. | La clase termina a las doce en punto. |
If an event happens at noon or midnight, you don't need numbers. Just use al mediodía or a la medianoche.
| We have to arrive at the bank at noon. | Tenemos que llegar al banco al mediodía. |
| The concert ends at midnight. | El concierto termina a la medianoche. |
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