What time is it?
Ask and tell the time in Spanish
Context
Listen to the dialogue. Tap the speaker to hear each line.
Ana
¿Qué hora es?
What time is it?
Luis
Es la una.
It's one o'clock.
Ana
¿Y ahora?
And now?
Luis
Son las dos y media.
It's two thirty.
Ana
¿A qué hora es la clase?
What time is the class?
Luis
La clase es a las tres.
The class is at three o'clock.
Practice the dialogue
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Vocabulary
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¿qué hora es?
¿Qué hora es? Son las tres.
This is THE question for asking the time. Practice it as a fixed phrase.
what time is it?
Savees la una
Es la una en punto.
Use 'es la' ONLY for one o'clock (singular 'una').
it's one o'clock
Savemenos cuarto
Son las cuatro menos cuarto.
'Menos cuarto' = fifteen minutes before the hour, e.g. 3:45.
quarter to
Savea las
La clase es a las tres.
Use 'a las' for times (except 'a la una'): a las dos, a las cinco.
at (time)
SaveGrammar in 1 minute
Es la una vs. Son las...
To say the time, use 'Es la' + 'una' for one o'clock and 'Son las' + number for 2 to 12. The verb changes from singular to plural to match the hour.
Es la una. Son las dos. Son las diez.
Only ONE o'clock uses 'es la'. Everything else uses 'son las'. Memorize: 'es la una, son las dos'.
Minutes: y media, y cuarto, menos cuarto
Add minutes with 'y' after the hour: 'y media' (half past, :30), 'y cuarto' (quarter past, :15). For times before the next hour, use 'menos cuarto' (quarter to).
Son las dos y media. Son las tres y cuarto. Son las cuatro menos cuarto.
'y media' and 'y cuarto' ADD to the hour; 'menos cuarto' SUBTRACTS from the next hour.
Talking about scheduled times with 'a las'
To say when something happens, use 'a la' (before 'una') or 'a las' (before other hours): 'la clase es a las tres'.
La clase es a las tres. El desayuno es a la una.
Notice the difference: 'son las tres' tells the current time, but 'a las tres' means 'at three o'clock'.
Interactive practice
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What time is it?
Listen and choose the time you heard.
What time is it?
One o'clock
Write the missing verb (it is).
Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.
Match the time
Connect each Spanish phrase with its English meaning.
Write the time
Write 'It's two thirty' in Spanish.
Write 'It's two thirty' in Spanish.
Suggested answer: Son las dos y media
Repeat the time
Listen, pause and repeat out loud, then ask the question yourself.
¿Qué hora es? Son las tres en punto.
What time is it? It's three o'clock sharp.
Listen, pause and repeat out loud. Repeat 3 times until it sounds natural.
Pronunciation trainer
Half past
Write the missing word for 'half past'.
Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.
Final quiz
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