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

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.

Answer 4

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

Answer 5

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!