Do they use a 24 hour clock or 12 hour clock in Spain?

Question

Just wondering. In the lessons she says they use a 12 hour clock in the Spanish language, but I wasn't sure if that was just Mexico, Central, South America or what.

Answer 1

As part of my meager education, I have learned to tell time with a 12 hour clock. But within that same series I have learned,

"El ultimo tren sale para Madrid a las diez y siete y viente."

So from that I would infer that Spain is much like the US- a 12 hour clock is generally used, but they might use a 24 hour clock for certain things.

• ¿Diez y siete y viente = diecisiete y veinte? - Behemoth Oct 5, 2009

Answer 2

HI asrin, not really.... we use the 12 hour clock, we say

las 12 de la noche las 12 del mediodía

• So that means I'm the only guy who learned the 24 hour method because I thought I had to learn it? D: - fatcinnaroll Oct 5, 2009
• No knowledge is wasted. - Eddy Oct 5, 2009
• Don't worry, in Poland we use the 24h clock, so you can stiil find it useful :-P - Issabela Oct 6, 2009

Answer 3

I think its just the same as most English countries- where we use both 12 hour and 24 hour clocks! Though that is an interesting question because i'v only learnt to tell the time on a 12-hour clock!

Answer 4

In Spain, a 24 hour clock is used, as is the case in nearly all of Europe.

Answer 5

Heidita is right.
Although, oddly enough, you often see times written in 24h, like on advertisements or signs.
I don't think anyone actually says, for example, "a las 18". They also don't say "am" or "pm" like in the US. They say "de la tarde", etc.