Spanish

Telling the Time

Learn how to ask and tell basic times for plans, transport and opening hours.

5 min

The question

“¿Qué hora es?Pronunciation: keh OH-rah es” means “What time is it?”

To ask what time something happens, use ¿A qué hora…?

Use es for one o’clock and son for other hours.

01

One o’clock

Es la unaPronunciation: es lah OO-nah.It’s one.

02

Other hours

Son las tresPronunciation: son lahs tres.It’s three.

Four useful times

la una1:00
las dos2:00
las cinco5:00
las diez10:00

Add minutes

01Son las tres y cinco.3:05.02Son las tres y cuarto.3:15.03Son las tres y mediaPronunciation: ee MEH-dyah.3:30.04Son las cuatro menos cuarto.3:45.

The pattern

“Y” adds minutes. “Menos” counts back from the next hour.

Tres y veinte is 3:20. Cuatro menos diez is 3:50.

Ask about schedules

01¿A qué hora abre?What time does it open?02¿A qué hora cierra?What time does it close?03¿A qué hora quedamos?Pronunciation: ah keh OH-rah keh-DAH-mosWhat time shall we meet?04A las ocho.At eight.

Use “a la” for one and “a las” for other hours.

01

1:00

A la una.At one.

02

8:00

A las ocho.At eight.

Remember this

¿A qué hora…? is more useful than memorizing every possible clock phrase.

Use it for opening times, transport, dinner and plans: ¿A qué hora quedamos?

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-09-07

Screen 1 / 1