Telling Time in Spanish

Vocabulary

100

These are the two phrases that mean “it is…” for telling time.

What are? 

Son las & Es la

200

These are the two phrases that mean “at…” for telling time.

What are?

A las &

A la

300

These are the two words you use – one to add minutes and one to subtract minutes.

What are?

y & menos

400

These are the two phrases that mean quarter and half.

What are?

cuarto & media

500

This is the largest number you would need to know in order to tell time in Spanish.

What is?

cincuenta y nueve

Up to 30

100

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 4:10”

What is?

Son las cuatro y diez.

200

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 5:20”

What is?

Son las cinco y veinte.

300

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 7:30”

What is?

Son las siete y media / treinta.

400

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“At 2:15”

What is?

A las dos y cuarto

500

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“At 1:30”

What is?

A la una y media

Up to 60

100

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 8:40” / (20 ‘til 9:00)

What is?

Son las nueve menos veinte.

200

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 10:50” / (10 ‘till 11:00)

What is?

Son las once menos diez.

300

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 3:55” / (5 ‘til 4:00)

What is?

Son las cuatro menos cinco.

400

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“At 4:45”/ (quarter ‘til 5:00)

What is?

A las cinco menos cuarto

500

This is the Spanish phrase that means

“It is 12:50” / (10 ‘til 1:00)

What is?

Es la una menos diez.

Translations

100

This is the Spanish translation of

'in the morning,' or 'AM'

What is

"de la mañana" ?

200

This is the Spanish translation of

'in the afternoon,' or 'PM'

What is

'de la tarde' ?

300

This is the Spanish translation for 

'at night'.

What is

''de la noche'?

400

This is the Spanish translation for 

'It is noon.'

What is

'Es (el) mediodía' ?

500

This is the Spanish translation for 

'It is midnight'.

What is

'Es (la) medianoche'?

Common Errors

100

Fix this common mistake:

2:50 Son las dos menos diez.

What is?

2:50 Son las TRES menos diez.

200

Fix this common mistake:

5:20 Son las cinco y quince.

Fix this common mistake:

5:20 Son las cinco y VEINTE.

300

Fix this common mistake:

5:45 Son las cinco menos cuarto.

What is?

5:45 Son las SEIS menos cuarto.

400

Fix this common mistake:

1:30 Son las una y media.

What is?

1:30 ES LA una y media.

500

Fix this common mistake:

12:55 Son las una menos cinco.

What is?

12:55 ES LA una menos cinco.