Telling the time in Spanish
Learning how to tell the time in Spanish is an essential skill for beginners. Whether you're planning to travel, chatting with native speakers, or taking a Spanish class, knowing how to ask and say the time will boost your confidence and fluency.
In this post, you’ll learn:
How to ask for the time in Spanish
How to say the time correctly
Common time-related vocabulary
Fun activities to practice telling time in Spanish
Let’s dive in! ⏱️
⌚ How to Ask for the Time in Spanish
To ask someone what time it is, use the phrase:
¿Qué hora es?
➡️ What time is it?
You can also hear:
¿Tienes hora? (Do you have the time?)
¿Me puedes decir la hora? (Can you tell me the time?)
🕰️ How to Say the Time in Spanish
When telling the time in Spanish, use the verb ser ("to be"). Here's the formula:
Es la una – It's 1:00 (used only for 1 o’clock)
Son las [number] – It’s [number] o’clock (used for all other hours)
Examples:
🕐 Minutes Past the Hour:
Use y (and) for minutes past:
Son las tres y diez – It’s 3:10
Son las ocho y cuarto – It’s 8:15 (cuarto = quarter)
🕜 Minutes to the Hour:
Use menos (minus) for minutes before:
Son las cinco menos veinte – It’s 4:40
Son las nueve menos cuarto – It’s 8:45
🌓 Talking About Time of Day
To clarify the time of day, you can add:
de la mañana – in the morning
de la tarde – in the afternoon
de la noche – at night
✅ Son las seis de la mañana – It’s 6:00 AM
✅ Son las nueve de la noche – It’s 9:00 PM
🧠 Common Time Vocabulary in Spanish
🕹️ Try this interactive clock!
Practice telling the time in Spanish
Listen to this song and learn the time!
🚀 Want to Learn More?
Unlock exclusive tips, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content!
🎥 Follow me on YouTube & 📸 Instagram — let's grow together!