¿Qué hora es?

Telling the time in Spanish

Being able to ask and tell the time is essential in everyday situations — making appointments, catching buses, and meeting friends.

Es la / Son las

Use es la for one o'clock, and son las for all other hours:

• *Es la una.* (It is one o'clock.)
• *Son las tres.* (It is three o'clock.)
• *Son las diez.* (It is ten o'clock.)

Half past, quarter past, quarter to

• y media — half past: *Son las dos y media.* (It is half past two.)
• y cuarto — quarter past: *Son las cinco y cuarto.* (It is quarter past five.)
• menos cuarto — quarter to: *Son las ocho menos cuarto.* (It is quarter to eight.)

Minutes past and to

• Use y + minutes for minutes past the hour: *Son las tres y diez.* (It is 3:10.)
• Use menos + minutes for minutes to the next hour: *Son las tres menos veinte.* (It is 2:40.)

Asking and answering about time

• *¿Qué hora es?* — What time is it?
• *¿A qué hora es la clase?* — At what time is the class?
• *A las nueve en punto.* — At nine o'clock sharp.

Special times

• Es mediodía. — It is noon.
• Es medianoche. — It is midnight.

Ejemplo: "¿Qué hora es? Son las cuatro y media. La clase es a las cinco menos cuarto." — "What time is it? It is half past four. The class is at quarter to five."