A very simple question about telling the time

Question

Now, I was always taught that after half past any hour, you would then begin to say it is "so many minutes to" and then the next hour.

Son viente para las cinco (4:40)

When I was browsing through the lessons here, I came upon the one that was teaching how to tell the time. The only way you learn is saying the hour and then the number of minutes.

Son cuatro y cuarenta. (4:40)

I know that English speakers do use both ways, and both are very common. I am just wondering why the lesson did not teach the first way. Is this just a personal preference? Is it at all regional?

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An extra question:

I was taught in my Spanish class you can also say:

Son las cinco menos viente (4:40)

This one does sound quite odd to me.

I also see around the internet:

Faltan viente para las cinco (4:40)

I don't think this one sounds too bad, but I have never heard it before.

Anybody know how often these are used?

Thank you!

Great question la poetisa - Izanoni1, Aug 27, 2010

Thanks! I have been wondering about this for a few days... I figured it was time to ask. :D - NikkiLR, Aug 27, 2010

Answer 1

To add to Lazarus' post, on the radio you will hear "Faltan veinte minutos para las cinco" but in conversation, "Faltan veinte para las cinco" is quite common - in Mexico.

"Son las cinco menos veinte" is exactly the way it said in Russian, but the "without phrase" doesn't usually start until 15 minutes before the hour. When I lived there, this was one of my major obstacles to overcome.

I agree with Julian on "Faltan Veinte para..." I think it is probably more common in the Americas than in Spain. - Gekkosan, Aug 27, 2010

Really? Didn't know that. I have yet to hear that phrase here. Thanks! - NikkiLR, Aug 27, 2010

Answer 2

Son las cinco menos veinte

This is exactly how we say it in Argentina.

Answer 3

Son viente para las cinco (4:40)

In Spain we'd say "Son las cinco menos veinte", but there might be some regional variations with regards to telling the time, so I am not sure about other places.

Son cuatro y cuarenta. (4:40)

We only say that when we want to make it clear that it is the exact time, as when we are setting the time of a new watch. It is not common, but it is not wrong.

Faltan viente para las cinco (4:40)

People sometimes say "Faltan veinte minutos para las cinco" (never heard it without "minutos), but you won't hear it much unless you ask ¿Cuánto queda para las cinco? or there is an event at 5 and you are counting down.

I think there must be... I have never heard that one here (Son las cinco menos viente...). It just sounds so odd to me. Thank you for the quick response! - NikkiLR, Aug 27, 2010

Answer 4

Here's an interesting article that mentions some usages that we beginners aren't usually introduced to, like m. for mediodía, using punto vs dos puntos (3.30 vs 3:30), etc.

It even addresses those questions about when is "de la mañana" or "de la tarde".

la hora

Great! Thank you :D - NikkiLR, Aug 27, 2010