Help with Telling Time

Question

¿Cómo se dice "it is 2:42"? ¿Es esto todo dice en español? ¿Es "son las dos y cuarenta y dos"'

Answer 1

¿Es "son las dos y cuarenta y dos"?
This is gramatically right, but it will not sound natural. I would say "son las tres menos veinte" (rounding it to 2:40).

Answer 2

Mucho Gracias!! I was wondering why I couldn´t find it in any of the books I have. But nothing just stated that it should rounded off.

Answer 3

ztaylor said:

Mucho Gracias!! I was wondering why I couldn´t find it in any of the books I have. But nothing just stated that it should rounded off.

Z, Guillermo is only saying what you already know from English. That is, we don't usually say the time so precisely. If it's 3:16 on my watch and I am asked the time, I'll probably say 3:15 or a quarter past three. However, there is nothing at all wrong with the way you said the time. Note that it can also be written as "son las dos y cuarentidos

Answer 4

Fantastico! Sometime I get so wrapped up in learning I make it harder than it really is. What would we do without you guys to help us out.

Answer 5

James Santiago said:

Mark Baker said:

Is there a specic reason why the 'a' is dropped from cuarentidos......and does the same apply for cincuenta y dos becomes cincuentidos.

It's just a contraction.See this: http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com/1-100-Numbers-In-Spanish.html

Many Thanks.

Can I also ask your opinion on how the Spanish would say 8.45 since the lesson on 'Time' covered quarter past and half past but did not mention 'a quarter to'. The French would say Neuf heures moins le quart so I guess the Spanish would say something similar...top of the hour minus a quarter. What is the standard convention please'

Answer 6

Mark Baker said:

Of course, we say this in English too. It's a quarter 'til nine.

Answer 7

More than half an hour you just got to the "to" mode. By example 8:35 would be "nueve menos veinticinco". 8:30 is "ocho y media". Less than half of an hour you use the "past" mode. By example 8:20 is said "ocho y veinte".

Mark Baker said:

James Santiago said:

Mark Baker said:

Is there a specic reason why the 'a' is dropped from cuarentidos......and does the same apply for cincuenta y dos becomes cincuentidos.

It's just a contraction.See this: http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com/1-100-Numbers-In-Spanish.html

Many Thanks.Can I also ask your opinion on how the Spanish would say 8.45 since the lesson on 'Time' covered quarter past and half past but did not mention 'a quarter to'. The French would say Neuf heures moins le quart so I guess the Spanish would say something similar...top of the hour minus a quarter. What is the standard convention please?

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Answer 8

Is there a specic reason why the 'a' is dropped from cuarentidos......and does the same apply for cincuenta y dos becomes cincuentidos.

Answer 9

Mark Baker said:

Is there a specic reason why the 'a' is dropped from cuarentidos......and does the same apply for cincuenta y dos becomes cincuentidos.

It's just a contraction.

See this: http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com/1-100-Numbers-In-Spanish.html

Answer 10

By example 8:20 is said "ocho y veinte".

On the radio around here (California), the locutores also say "son las ocho con veinte minutos."

Answer 11

Guillermo said:

More than half an hour you just got to the "to" mode. By example 8:35 would be "nueve menos veinticinco". 8:30 is "ocho y media". Less than half of an hour you use the "past" mode. By example 8:20 is said "ocho y veinte".

In Spain is exactly the same.

Answer 12

Natasha said:

Mark Baker said:

Of course, we say this in English too. It's a quarter 'til nine.

Thanks Natasha

Answer 13

I believe it is cuarenta y dos. I think only veinte becomes veintiuno, dos, etc. Treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta all end in a.

Mark Baker said:

James Santiago said:

Mark Baker said:

Is there a specic reason why the 'a' is dropped from cuarentidos......and does the same apply for cincuenta y dos becomes cincuentidos.

It's just a contraction.See this: http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com/1-100-Numbers-In-Spanish.html

Many Thanks.Can I also ask your opinion on how the Spanish would say 8.45 since the lesson on 'Time' covered quarter past and half past but did not mention 'a quarter to'. The French would say Neuf heures moins le quart so I guess the Spanish would say something similar...top of the hour minus a quarter. What is the standard convention please?

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Answer 14

Heidi wrote:
I believe it is cuarenta y dos. I think only veinte becomes veintiuno, dos, etc. Treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta all end in a.

That is incorrect. Please see the link I provided. Both forms, short and long, are correct for all numbers up to 99 (and beyond, of course).

Answer 15

Your link supports what I wrote. Only veinte becomes veintiuno - all other numbers, treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta, sesenta, etc become treinta y uno. It is because of the e on the end versus the a on the end of the word.

James Santiago said:

Heidi wrote:I believe it is cuarenta y dos. I think only veinte becomes veintiuno, dos, etc. Treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta all end in a.That is incorrect. Please see the link I provided. Both forms, short and long, are correct for all numbers up to 99 (and beyond, of course).

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