What time is it? Learn how easy is to tell time in Spanish! Part II
You have already learnt in the latest post four steps about asking time in Spanish and the most important things about telling time.
Let´s see in this post the last four steps:
5. To say something occurs at a specific time, use the formula:
A + LA/LAS + TIME
El restaurante cierra a las once y cuarto. The restaurant closes at 11:15pm.
María llegó a las cinco y diez. Mary arrived at 5:10pm.
6. To indicate time of day when using the 12-hour clock (am, pm)
For “o´clock”, “sharp” or “on the dot” use “en punto”
Use de la mañana (am) before noon (mediodía).
Use de la tarde (pm) between noon and early evening.
Use de la noche (pm) from evening to midnight (medianoche).
Examples:
Son las diez de la mañana. It´s 10am.
La fiesta empieza a las 6 de la tarde en punto. The party begins at 6pm on the dot.
Son las nueve y media de la noche. It´s 9:30pm.
7. When no specific time is mentioned, use the expressions:
Por la mañana, in the morning
Por la tarde, between noon and early evening
Por la noche, from evening to midnight
Example:
Voy a nadar por la mañana. I go swimming in the morning.
8. USEFUL COMMON TIME EXPRESSIONS:
¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
¿A qué hora? – At what time?
A las dos (tres) – at two (three) o’clock
De la mañana – in the morning, a.m. (specific time)
De la tarde – in the afternoon, p.m. (specific time)
De la noche – at night, p.m. (specific time)
Por la mañana – in the morning (no specific time)
Por la tarde – in the afternoon (no specific time)
Por la noche – in the evening or night (no specific time)
Es mediodía – It’s noon
Al mediodía – at noon
Es medianoche – It’s midnight
A (la) medianoche – at midnight
Es tarde – It’s late
Es temprano – It’s early
A tiempo – on time
En punto – exactly, sharp, on the dot
Alrededor de – around
Más o menos - about
