¿Qué horas son?

Question

I heard that...

¿Qué hora es?

is more formal, and that...

¿Qué horas son?

is very common and is used much more often by the daily public.

Is this accurate?

Answer 1

Thanks for the replies!

That's what it said...

¿Qué hora es? is taught, but ¿Qué horas son? is what is actually used on the street.

Answer 2

And in Chile too.

Answer 3

I think that is accurate, but I also think it varies by region. ¿Qué hora es? is "the correct and formal" way to ask for the time (according to a text book from Argentina), but I know that ¿Qué horas son? is very common in Peru and Mexico in the spoken language.

Answer 4

In Colombia we almost always say ¿Qué horas son?

I don't think it has anything to do with formality. It's just the way to ask the time. Actually, it makes sense, since for only two hours a day would the response be singular.

Answer 5

link text

Hola!

That forum makes it sound as if it's something used mostly in Mexico.