EL TIEMPO: TELL TIME IN SPANISH

There are different ways to tell time in Spanish.

For the quarters of the clock (15, 30, 45, and 00 minutes), there are two options. You can either use the hour and the number of the minute or you could use the phrase for the specific time marker.

For example, if it is 2:15 you could either say, "son las dos y quince" or "son las dos y cuarto". The first method using "quince" is telling the time with the name of the minute (since it is "fifteen"). In the second method, you are essentially saying that it is two and a quarter, hence "cuarto".

If it is 2:30 you could say "son las dos y media" or "son las dos y treinta". If it is 2:45 you could say "son las 2 y cuarenta y cinco" or you could say "son las tres menos quince". By saying son las dos menos quince, you are stating that it is 3 o'clock minus 15 minutes.

The list below covers how to state when you are referencing a whole hour like:

1 pm, 3 am or noon:

Other good numbers to know when stating time are listed below. If you are looking for anything in between such as 2:23, just follow the pattern and change the ending.