Telling Time in Spanish (It's Not Just Numbers)
Telling time in Spanish isn't hard once you get the pattern, but it works a little differently than English. You'll use "es" for one o'clock and "son" for everything else, and the way you describe parts of the day has its own logic. Here's how it all fits together.
Telling the Time — Decir la Hora
The core structure is simple: "Es la una" for 1:00 and "Son las + number" for everything else. Add minutes with "y" (and) or subtract them with "menos" (minus) when you're close to the next hour.
"Menos" for subtracting minutes (like "Son las ocho menos diez") is more common in Spain. In Latin America, you'll often hear the direct version: "Son las siete y cincuenta." Both are correct.
Parts of the Day — Partes del Día
Spanish divides the day differently than English. "La tarde" covers a bigger chunk than "afternoon" does in English — it stretches all the way until it gets dark.
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Days and Months — Días y Meses
One thing that trips people up: days and months are not capitalized in Spanish. Also, the week starts on Monday in most Spanish-speaking countries, not Sunday.
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Time-Related Expressions — Expresiones de Tiempo
Beyond telling the hour, these are the time expressions you'll hear and use constantly in everyday conversation.
"Ya" is one of the most versatile words in Spanish. It can mean "already" ("Ya comí" — I already ate), "now" ("¡Ya voy!" — I'm coming now!), or even "enough" ("¡Ya!" — Stop it!). Context is everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say the time in Spanish?
For 1 o'clock, say "Es la una." For all other hours, say "Son las [number]." For example, "Son las tres" (It's three o'clock). Add minutes with "y" (and): "Son las tres y diez" (It's 3:10).
What is the difference between de la mañana and por la mañana?
De la mañana is used with a specific time ("Son las ocho de la mañana" — It's 8 AM). Por la mañana means "in the morning" in general ("Estudio por la mañana" — I study in the morning).
Do Spanish speakers use 24-hour time?
In everyday conversation, most people use 12-hour time with "de la mañana/tarde/noche." However, 24-hour time is common in schedules, train times, and official contexts, especially in Spain.
How do you say the days of the week in Spanish?
Monday through Sunday: lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, domingo. Note that days are not capitalized in Spanish, and the week starts on Monday in most Spanish-speaking countries.