Telling the time

Question

How do you tell someone what the time is?

Answer 1

To inquire about the time, query: "Que hora es?"

To tell the time, use the verb, "ser". Use the appropriate conjugation of "ser"--the third person singular or third person plural.

(1) Es la una. - It is one o'clock.
(2) Son las dos. - It is two o'clock.

Add minutes by using the conjunction "y".

Es la uno y cinco. - It is 1:05.

You can use this method through the half hour or throughout the hour.

You may express the half hour by adding the word "media" after the conjunction "y".

(1) Es la una y media. - It is 1:30.
(2) Son las siete y media. - It is 7:30.

After the half hour, you can alternatively state the minutes before the next hour by using the word "menos".

Son las dos menos cinco. - "It is 1:55." Or "It is 5 minutes to 2:00."

You may express a quarter of an hour by using the word, "cuarto".

(1) Es la una y cuarto. - It is 1:15.
(2) Son las dos menos cuarto: "It is 1:45." Or "It is a quarter to two o'clock."

Add the relative time of day by using the following phrases:

(1) "de la mañana" - "in the morning" (2) "de la tarde" - "in the afternoon" (3) "de la noche" - "in the evening" or "in the night"

You may also use the "terms": am or pm.

Answer 2

Best to read article, but as a starter

Es la una. Son las dos. Son las tres. Es mediodía. Es medianoche.