How to Tell Time in Spanish ⏰
Welcome! 👋
Knowing the time in Spanish isn’t just grammar — it’s how you connect with people’s everyday lives.
Can you say it’s 2:45? Can you tell someone to meet you at 6:30? Can you ask what time the market opens? This guide teaches you all of that — plus the cultural layer that textbooks always skip.
✅ The core formula: Es la una / Son las…
✅ Key expressions: y cuarto, y media, menos veinte, en punto
✅ Time of day: mañana, tarde, noche, madrugada
✅ Every way to ask the time — formal, casual, street
✅ Colloquial expressions: y pico, las tres pasadas, casi las, a eso de las…
✅ Meetings, schedules, WhatsApp, travel — real contexts
✅ Time culture across Latin America 🌎
✅ 10 interactive exercises with instant feedback
✅ Key expressions: y cuarto, y media, menos veinte, en punto
✅ Time of day: mañana, tarde, noche, madrugada
✅ Every way to ask the time — formal, casual, street
✅ Colloquial expressions: y pico, las tres pasadas, casi las, a eso de las…
✅ Meetings, schedules, WhatsApp, travel — real contexts
✅ Time culture across Latin America 🌎
✅ 10 interactive exercises with instant feedback
🎯 Your progress: 0 / 10 exercises completed
Complete the exercises below to track your learning!
🕐 SECTION 1: The Core Formula — Es la una / Son las dos
▼
Here’s the most important thing you’ll learn today. In English, you say «It is two o’clock» for all hours. In Spanish, the verb changes for 1:00 — and that one exception explains the whole system.
The Rule — Memorize This
Es la una.
It’s one o’clock. — Use ES + LA for 1:00 only
Son las dos / tres / cuatro… doce.
It’s two / three / four… twelve. — Use SON + LAS for all other hours
💡 Why the difference? La hora (the hour) is a feminine, singular noun — so 1:00 is singular: Es la una. All other hours are plural: Son las dos. Think of it as «It is the hour» vs. «They are the hours.»
All Twelve Hours
1:00
Es la una
It’s one o’clock
2:00
Son las dos
It’s two o’clock
3:00
Son las tres
It’s three o’clock
4:00
Son las cuatro
It’s four o’clock
5:00
Son las cinco
It’s five o’clock
6:00
Son las seis
It’s six o’clock
7:00
Son las siete
It’s seven o’clock
8:00
Son las ocho
It’s eight o’clock
9:00
Son las nueve
It’s nine o’clock
10:00
Son las diez
It’s ten o’clock
11:00
Son las once
It’s eleven o’clock
12:00
Son las doce
It’s twelve o’clock
🌎 Latin American note: You’ll rarely hear the 24-hour clock in everyday conversation across Latin America. Instead, people say «son las tres de la tarde» (3 PM) or «son las tres de la madrugada» (3 AM) to specify. The 24-hour format appears mainly in schedules, airports, and official contexts.
Special Hours: Noon and Midnight
☀️
el mediodía
noon / midday
Es mediodía.
🌙
la medianoche
midnight
Es medianoche.
🇲🇽 Mexican tip: In Mexico, you might also hear «al mediodía» used to mean «at lunchtime» — even if it’s 1 PM or 2 PM. Lunch timing is flexible and anchored more to the meal than the clock.
🕒 SECTION 2: Minutes, Fractions & The «Menos» Method
▼
Once you know the hours, you need to express minutes. Spanish has two systems for this — adding minutes forward (y) and counting back from the next hour (menos). Both are used constantly across Latin America.
System 1: Adding Minutes — Y (and)
For the first 30 minutes of any hour, add y + minutes after the hour.
3:10
Son las tres y diez
Three ten
7:15
Son las siete y cuarto
Seven fifteen
1:20
Es la una y veinte
One twenty
5:30
Son las cinco y media
Five thirty
9:05
Son las nueve y cinco
Nine oh five
11:25
Son las once y veinticinco
Eleven twenty-five
💡 Two essential shortcuts:
Y cuarto = and a quarter = 15 minutes → Son las dos y cuarto (2:15)
Y media = and a half = 30 minutes → Son las dos y media (2:30)
Y cuarto = and a quarter = 15 minutes → Son las dos y cuarto (2:15)
Y media = and a half = 30 minutes → Son las dos y media (2:30)
System 2: Counting Back — Menos (minus)
For the second half of the hour (after :30), many native speakers count back from the next hour using menos + minutes.
3:45
Son las cuatro menos cuarto
A quarter to four
8:40
Son las nueve menos veinte
Twenty to nine
1:50
Son las dos menos diez
Ten to two
6:35
Son las siete menos veinticinco
Twenty-five to seven
11:55
Son las doce menos cinco
Five to twelve
4:50
Son las cinco menos diez
Ten to five
🌎 Regional variation: The menos system is widely used across Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Mexico. However, in Argentina and Uruguay you’ll often hear people simply say the full number of minutes instead — for example, «son las tres y cuarenta y cinco» rather than «son las cuatro menos cuarto.» Both are correct — just a matter of regional habit!
En punto — On the Dot
Add en punto after any exact hour to emphasize it’s exactly that time — equivalent to «sharp» or «on the dot» in English.
✅ Examples:
La reunión es a las tres en punto. → The meeting is at exactly three o’clock.
El vuelo sale a la una en punto. → The flight leaves at one sharp.
La reunión es a las tres en punto. → The meeting is at exactly three o’clock.
El vuelo sale a la una en punto. → The flight leaves at one sharp.
🌅 SECTION 3: Time of Day — Mañana, Tarde, Noche & Madrugada
▼
Instead of AM/PM, Spanish uses time-of-day expressions that follow the hour. They tell you not just when, but what part of the day it is — and each one carries its own cultural weight.
🌄
de la mañana
in the morning (AM)
~6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
☀️
de la tarde
in the afternoon (PM)
~12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
🌙
de la noche
in the evening / at night
~7:00 PM – midnight
🌃
de la madrugada
in the early hours / dead of night
midnight – ~5:00 AM
💡 How to use them: Just add the expression after the full time sentence.
Son las tres de la tarde. → It’s three in the afternoon. (3 PM)
Son las dos de la madrugada. → It’s two in the morning. (2 AM)
Es la una de la mañana. → It’s one in the morning. (1 AM)
Son las tres de la tarde. → It’s three in the afternoon. (3 PM)
Son las dos de la madrugada. → It’s two in the morning. (2 AM)
Es la una de la mañana. → It’s one in the morning. (1 AM)
General Time Expressions (Without a Specific Clock Time)
🌅
por la mañana
in the morning (generally)
Trabajo por la mañana.
🌞
por la tarde
in the afternoon (generally)
Estudio por la tarde.
🌇
por la noche
in the evening (generally)
Como por la noche.
🌙
de madrugada
in the small hours
Llegué de madrugada.
🌄
al amanecer
at dawn
Me despierto al amanecer.
🌆
al anochecer
at dusk / nightfall
Regreso al anochecer.
⏰
a tiempo
on time
Llegué a tiempo.
🐌
tarde
late
Llegué tarde.
🏃
temprano
early
Llegué temprano.
❓
¿A qué hora?
At what time?
The question you’ll use most
🌎 SECTION 4: Time Culture Across Latin America — What Textbooks Don’t Tell You
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Learning to say «it’s 3 PM» is the easy part. Understanding how Latin Americans actually think about time — that’s what makes you a real Spanish speaker. The relationship with time varies fascinatingly across the region.
🇲🇽
Mexico — «Ahorita»
The word ahorita is famous for meaning almost anything: right now, in a moment, soon, later, or maybe never — depending on context. «Ahorita vengo» could mean I’m back in 2 minutes or 2 hours. Experienced visitors know to clarify!
🇦🇷
Argentina — Late Dinners
Dinner in Buenos Aires rarely starts before 9 PM. Restaurants fill up between 10 PM and midnight. Restaurants that open at 8 PM largely serve tourists. If an Argentine invites you to dinner «early,» they mean 8:30 PM.
🇨🇴
Colombia — Flexible Punctuality
Social gatherings in Colombia run on «hora colombiana» — arriving 30 to 45 minutes after the stated time is perfectly normal and expected. However, business meetings and official appointments are treated with European punctuality.
🇵🇪
Peru — Market Hours
In Peru, markets (mercados) and many small businesses open very early — as early as 5 AM — especially in Andean cities like Cusco and Arequipa. Planning around market hours is essential for daily life.
🇻🇪
Venezuela — La Hora Venezolana
La hora venezolana is a well-known concept even among Venezuelans themselves — it refers to the local custom of arriving anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour later than agreed. It’s spoken about with affectionate self-awareness.
🇨🇱
Chile — More Punctual in the South
Chile, particularly Santiago, tends to be more punctual in professional settings than many of its neighbors. Business culture aligns closer to European norms. Social occasions still allow some flexibility — usually 15–20 minutes.
🎯 The key phrase for navigating time culturally:
«¿A qué hora me esperas?» → What time are you expecting me? (asking to calibrate)
«¿Es hora exacta o hay margen?» → Is that exact or is there some flexibility?
These questions show cultural awareness and will always make native speakers smile.
«¿A qué hora me esperas?» → What time are you expecting me? (asking to calibrate)
«¿Es hora exacta o hay margen?» → Is that exact or is there some flexibility?
These questions show cultural awareness and will always make native speakers smile.
🗣️ SECTION 5: All the Ways to Ask & Talk About Time
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In English, you pretty much have one way: «What time is it?» In Spanish, how you ask depends on the situation — the street, a meeting room, a WhatsApp message, a phone call. Each register sounds different, and native speakers mix them all the time.
🔵 Asking What Time It Is Right Now
Universal — works everywhere
¿Qué hora es? Any context
What time is it?
The most common and universally understood form. Works in any Spanish-speaking country, any register, any situation. If you only learn one, learn this one.
Disculpe, ¿qué hora es?Excuse me, what time is it? (to a stranger, polite)
Oye, ¿qué hora es?Hey, what time is it? (to a friend, casual)
Casual / street — very common
¿Tienes hora? Informal
Do you have the time? (literally: do you have time?)
Extremely common in Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and beyond. You stop someone on the street and say ¿tienes hora? — they know exactly what you mean. Much more casual than ¿qué hora es?
Oye, ¿me dices qué hora es?Hey, can you tell me what time it is?
Perdoná, ¿tenés hora?Sorry, do you have the time? (Argentina/Uruguay: tenés = tienes)
Indirect / polite softener
¿Sabes qué hora es? / ¿Me dices la hora? Polite
Do you know what time it is? / Could you tell me the time?
These indirect forms soften the question — the same way «Could you tell me…?» sounds more polite in English than a direct «Tell me…». Use when approaching strangers or in slightly formal situations.
Disculpe, ¿me podría decir la hora?Excuse me, could you tell me the time? (very polite)
Perdona, ¿sabes la hora?Sorry, do you know the time? (casual polite)
🇨🇴 Colombian tip: On the street in Bogotá or Medellín, the most natural way to stop someone is «Perdona, ¿qué horas son?» — notice the plural: horas instead of hora. This is a characteristic Colombian variation that sounds completely natural to locals, even though it’s technically non-standard. Don’t be surprised when you hear it!
🔵 Asking About Events, Meetings & Schedules
This is the kind of time-talk you’ll use most: not asking what time it is, but asking when things happen.
The most-used question — events and plans
¿A qué hora…? Any context
At what time…? / What time does…?
Always followed by a verb. This is your workhorse question for any scheduled event — meetings, transport, classes, shops, meals, everything.
¿A qué hora empieza la reunión?What time does the meeting start?
¿A qué hora sale el autobús?What time does the bus leave?
¿A qué hora abre / cierra?What time does it open / close?
¿A qué hora termina la clase?What time does class end?
¿A qué hora llega el vuelo?What time does the flight arrive?
¿A qué hora nos vemos?What time are we meeting?
Stating when something is
La reunión / el evento es a las… Any context
The meeting / event is at…
Use es a las to state when a single event or appointment takes place. Use empieza a las when you want to emphasize when it starts. Both are natural.
La reunión es a las tres de la tarde.The meeting is at three in the afternoon.
El partido empieza a las ocho y media.The game starts at eight thirty.
Mi cita médica es a la una en punto.My doctor’s appointment is at one sharp.
La clase termina a las cinco menos cuarto.The class ends at a quarter to five.
Making plans — what time shall we meet?
Quedamos / Nos vemos a las… Informal
Let’s meet at… / See you at…
Quedar (to arrange to meet) is key in Colombia and much of Latin America. Nos vemos is softer and universal. Both are followed directly by a time.
Quedamos a las seis en la plaza.Let’s meet at six at the plaza.
Nos vemos mañana a las nueve de la mañana.See you tomorrow at nine in the morning.
Te espero a las tres en punto.I’ll wait for you at three sharp.
¿Pueden a las cuatro y media?Can you all do four thirty?
Talking about duration and schedules
De… a… / Hasta las… Any context
From… to… / Until…
Essential for talking about working hours, class schedules, opening times, and anything with a start and end. Very commonly used in emails, scheduling, and everyday conversation.
Trabajo de nueve a cinco.I work from nine to five.
El museo está abierto de diez a seis de la tarde.The museum is open from ten to six in the afternoon.
Estuvimos hablando hasta las dos de la madrugada.We were talking until two in the morning.
¿Hasta qué hora está abierto?Until what time is it open?
Running late — essential survival phrases
Voy tarde / Se me hizo tarde / Se me fue el tiempo Informal
I’m running late / I’m late / Time got away from me
Three different shades of «I’m late.» Voy tarde = I’m currently running late (in motion). Se me hizo tarde = it got late on me (it happened). Se me fue el tiempo = time slipped away (I lost track). All are natural and very common.
Perdón, se me hizo tarde. Ya voy.Sorry, I’m running late. I’m on my way.
Disculpa, se me fue el tiempo con el trabajo.Sorry, time got away from me with work.
Llego en diez minutos, perdona.I’ll be there in ten minutes, sorry.
🔵 Conversation in Context — At the Office in Bogotá 🇨🇴
Coordinando una reunión — Scheduling a meeting
Daniela:
Andrés, ¿a qué hora es la reunión con el cliente?
Andrés, what time is the meeting with the client?
Andrés:
Es a las tres en punto. ¿Puedes estar aquí desde las dos y media para revisar la presentación?
It’s at three sharp. Can you be here from two thirty to review the presentation?
Daniela:
Sí, pero tengo otra llamada de doce a una y media. ¿Cuánto dura la reunión?
Yes, but I have another call from twelve to one thirty. How long is the meeting?
Andrés:
Máximo hasta las cuatro y media, calculo. ¿Tienes hora después de eso?
Until four thirty at the most, I estimate. Do you have time after that?
Daniela:
Sí, perfecto. Oye, ¿qué hora son?
Yes, perfect. Hey, what time is it? (Colombian variation: ¿qué hora son?)
Andrés:
Son las doce y cuarto. Tienes tiempo.
It’s twelve fifteen. You have time.
💬 SECTION 6: How Native Speakers Really Talk About Time — Colloquial Expressions
▼
This is the section textbooks always skip. Native speakers don’t always say exact times — they approximate, soften, guess, and use expressions that feel more natural than «son las tres y cuarenta y siete.» Learning these makes your Spanish feel real.
🎯 The big idea: In real conversations, people rarely need to be precise to the minute. They use expressions that communicate a general time — and that’s completely normal. If you only say exact textbook times, you’ll sound like a clock, not a person.
Approximate & Colloquial Time Expressions
Las tres pasadas
It’s past three / already past three
You’ve just missed the exact hour and it’s already a bit later. Pasadas = already gone.
Son las tres pasadas.
It’s already past three.
Son las diez pasadas, apúrate.
It’s past ten, hurry up.
Son las tres pasadas.
It’s already past three.
Son las diez pasadas, apúrate.
It’s past ten, hurry up.
Y pico
A little past… / and a bit
Used when you don’t know exactly how many minutes past the hour it is, or you just don’t care. Pico = a little bit more.
Son las dos y pico.
It’s a little past two.
Llevo aquí desde las seis y pico.
I’ve been here since just after six.
Son las dos y pico.
It’s a little past two.
Llevo aquí desde las seis y pico.
I’ve been here since just after six.
Casi las…
Almost… / nearly…
When you’re getting close to the next hour. Casi = almost.
Son casi las ocho.
It’s almost eight.
Es casi la medianoche.
It’s almost midnight.
Son casi las ocho.
It’s almost eight.
Es casi la medianoche.
It’s almost midnight.
A eso de las… / Sobre las…
Around… / at about…
When making approximate plans or telling a story. A eso de is more widely used in Latin America; sobre las is common across all Spanish speakers.
Llegué a eso de las nueve.
I arrived at around nine.
Nos vemos sobre las seis.
Let’s meet at around six.
Llegué a eso de las nueve.
I arrived at around nine.
Nos vemos sobre las seis.
Let’s meet at around six.
A eso de las… más o menos
At about… more or less / give or take
Más o menos stacks onto any time to add extra vagueness. Very common when you’re estimating, or in cultures where time is flexible.
Termina a las cinco, más o menos.
It ends at around five, give or take.
Llego a las tres más o menos.
I’ll get there around three, roughly.
Termina a las cinco, más o menos.
It ends at around five, give or take.
Llego a las tres más o menos.
I’ll get there around three, roughly.
¡Ya son las…!
It’s already…! (expressing surprise or urgency)
Ya adds a sense of «already / oh no.» Used when time has passed faster than expected.
¡Ya son las diez! Me voy.
It’s already ten! I’m leaving.
¡Ya es casi medianoche!
It’s almost midnight already!
¡Ya son las diez! Me voy.
It’s already ten! I’m leaving.
¡Ya es casi medianoche!
It’s almost midnight already!
🌎 «Y pico» across Latin America: Y pico is used everywhere — Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela. If someone asks «¿qué hora es?» and you’re not sure whether it’s 3:10 or 3:18, you just say «son las tres y pico» and everyone understands. It’s the most natural way to express an approximate time.
Put It All Together — Approximate Time in Real Conversations
«¿A qué hora llegaron?» — «A eso de las nueve y pico.»
«What time did they arrive?» — «At around nine, give or take.»
«¿Cuándo empieza la película?» — «Son casi las ocho, así que pronto.»
«When does the movie start?» — «It’s almost eight, so soon.»
«¿Ya son las tres?» — «Son las tres pasadas, sí.»
«Is it already three?» — «It’s past three, yes.»
«¿A qué hora nos vemos mañana?» — «Sobre las cinco, más o menos.»
«What time are we meeting tomorrow?» — «Around five, roughly.»
🌎 SECTION 7: When Do People Actually Talk About Time? Real Contexts
▼
Time doesn’t exist in a vacuum. People talk about it in very specific situations — and once you recognize the context, you know exactly which phrases to reach for. Here are the real conversational scenarios where time comes up every single day.
🤝 Making Plans
The most common time-talk situation
Any time you’re arranging to meet someone — coffee, lunch, a party, a workout — you need to negotiate a time.
Key questions:
¿A qué hora quedamos?
¿Te viene bien a las…?
¿Puedes a las…?
Key answers:
Me viene bien a las cuatro.
Quedamos a las seis y media.
Mejor a eso de las cinco.
Key questions:
¿A qué hora quedamos?
¿Te viene bien a las…?
¿Puedes a las…?
Key answers:
Me viene bien a las cuatro.
Quedamos a las seis y media.
Mejor a eso de las cinco.
🏢 At Work / School
Meetings, classes, deadlines
Talking about work schedules, meeting times, and deadlines is a daily reality.
Typical exchanges:
¿A qué hora es la reunión?
La reunión es a las tres.
La clase termina a las cinco.
Trabajo de ocho a cinco.
Tengo clase hasta las dos.
Typical exchanges:
¿A qué hora es la reunión?
La reunión es a las tres.
La clase termina a las cinco.
Trabajo de ocho a cinco.
Tengo clase hasta las dos.
✈️ Travel & Transport
Planes, buses, trains, taxis
Asking about departure and arrival times is essential for travel across Latin America.
Key questions:
¿A qué hora sale el bus?
¿A qué hora llega el vuelo?
¿Hasta qué hora hay servicio?
Typical answers:
El bus sale a las siete de la mañana.
El vuelo llega a las once y cuarto.
Key questions:
¿A qué hora sale el bus?
¿A qué hora llega el vuelo?
¿Hasta qué hora hay servicio?
Typical answers:
El bus sale a las siete de la mañana.
El vuelo llega a las once y cuarto.
🏪 Daily Errands
Shops, markets, restaurants
Asking about opening and closing hours — markets, pharmacies, banks, restaurants.
The classic question:
¿A qué hora abren/cierran?
¿Hasta qué hora atienden?
Typical answer:
Abrimos de nueve a seis de la tarde.
Cerramos a las diez de la noche.
Los sábados hasta las dos.
The classic question:
¿A qué hora abren/cierran?
¿Hasta qué hora atienden?
Typical answer:
Abrimos de nueve a seis de la tarde.
Cerramos a las diez de la noche.
Los sábados hasta las dos.
📱 WhatsApp & Texting
The most common place it all happens
Across Latin America, plans are made — and changed — on WhatsApp. Approximate time expressions shine here.
Typical messages:
«Voy como a las 5 más o menos 🙏»
«Son casi las 8, ya voy llegando»
«¿Aún sigues ahí? Son las 7 pasadas»
«Llego a eso de las 3, aviso»
«Se me hizo tardísimo, perdón 😅»
Typical messages:
«Voy como a las 5 más o menos 🙏»
«Son casi las 8, ya voy llegando»
«¿Aún sigues ahí? Son las 7 pasadas»
«Llego a eso de las 3, aviso»
«Se me hizo tardísimo, perdón 😅»
🌙 Telling Stories
Narrating past events
When telling a story about something that happened, time markers set the scene.
Story time expressions:
Eran como las dos de la madrugada…
Llegué a eso de las seis de la tarde…
A las tres y pico me llamaron…
Ya eran casi las doce cuando…
Note: Eran (imperfect) = it was (past, telling a story).
Story time expressions:
Eran como las dos de la madrugada…
Llegué a eso de las seis de la tarde…
A las tres y pico me llamaron…
Ya eran casi las doce cuando…
Note: Eran (imperfect) = it was (past, telling a story).
✅ The storytelling tense — a quick note: When you’re telling a story about the past, the verb ser shifts to the imperfect: era / eran. «Eran las tres de la madrugada cuando llegó.» (It was three in the morning when he arrived.) You don’t need to master this right now — but you’ll hear it constantly in native speech.
Two Quick Real Dialogues
📱 WhatsApp — Running late in Mexico City 🇲🇽
Sofía:
Oye, ¿ya vas? Son casi las siete y ya estamos todos aquí.
Hey, are you on your way? It’s almost seven and everyone’s here already.
Miguel:
Sí, sí, ahorita salgo. Llego a eso de las siete y media, más o menos.
Yes, yes, I’m leaving right now. I’ll get there around seven thirty, more or less.
Sofía:
¡Ya son las siete pasadas, Miguel! Apúrate.
It’s already past seven, Miguel! Hurry up.
Miguel:
¡Ya voy! Se me fue el tiempo, perdón. 😅
I’m coming! Time got away from me, sorry.
🏪 At a pharmacy — Asking about hours in Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
Emma:
Disculpe, ¿hasta qué hora atienden hoy?
Excuse me, until what time are you open today?
Empleado:
Hasta las nueve de la noche. Pero los sábados cerramos a las seis y media.
Until nine at night. But on Saturdays we close at six thirty.
Emma:
¿Y mañana, a qué hora abren?
And tomorrow, what time do you open?
Empleado:
A las nueve de la mañana, en punto.
At nine in the morning, sharp.
🎯 Practice Exercises — 10 Interactive Challenges
Put your knowledge to the test! Complete all 10 exercises to finish the lesson. Each exercise has instant feedback.
1
Es la una or Son las…? Choose the correct verb form
Instructions: Select Es la una or Son las to correctly complete each sentence.
_____ siete y media de la tarde.
_____ una en punto de la madrugada.
_____ doce y cuarto del mediodía.
_____ tres menos diez de la tarde.
_____ una y cuarto de la tarde.
_____ once de la mañana.
2
Clock Challenge: Match the clock to the correct Spanish phrase
Instructions: Look at each clock below and click the matching Spanish time expression.
3
Write It Out: Type the time in Spanish
Instructions: Look at the digital time and write it out in Spanish. Use lowercase and include de la mañana / tarde / noche where shown.
🕐 2:00 (afternoon)
🕐 1:30 (morning)
🕐 7:15 (evening)
🕐 4:45 (afternoon)
🕐 12:00 (noon)
4
Multiple Choice: Pick the correct Spanish time
Instructions: For each digital time, choose the correct Spanish equivalent.
5
Colloquial Expressions: Choose the natural Spanish response
Instructions: Each situation calls for a natural, colloquial time expression. Select the most natural response a native speaker would use.
6
Time of Day: Classify each time as mañana, tarde, noche, or madrugada
Instructions: Select the correct time-of-day category for each digital time shown.
🕑 2:30 AM
🕔 4:00 PM
🕙 10:45 PM
🕖 7:20 AM
🕧 12:30 AM
🕑 1:00 PM
7
Complete the Schedule: Fill in the missing Spanish times
Instructions: Valentina is describing her day. Type the time in Spanish to complete each sentence.
6:00 AM
Me despierto a y hago ejercicio.
8:15 AM
Mi clase de español empieza a .
1:00 PM
Almuerzo a con mis compañeros.
3:45 PM
Termino el trabajo a .
9:30 PM
Ceno a y leo un libro.
8
Real Conversation: Fill in the blanks with natural time expressions
Instructions: This WhatsApp-style conversation uses natural, colloquial Spanish. Fill in each blank with the correct word or phrase. Some answers have multiple valid options!
📱 WhatsApp group — «Cena del viernes»
Lucía:
Oye, ¿ hora es la cena?
Hey, what time is dinner?
Tomás:
A de la noche. ¡En punto!
At eight in the evening. Sharp!
Rebeca:
Son las siete… voy bien.
It’s almost seven… I’m doing well on time.
Lucía:
Yo llego las ocho y media. ¿Bien?
I’ll get there around eight thirty. OK?
Tomás:
Son las ocho y Carlos no ha llegado. 😤
It’s already past eight and Carlos hasn’t arrived.
Carlos:
¡Perdón! . Ya llego.
Sorry! Time got away from me. I’m almost there.
9
Error Correction: Fix the time expression
Instructions: Each sentence has ONE error in the time expression. Rewrite the sentence correctly.
❌ «Es las dos de la tarde.»
❌ «Son la una y media de la noche.»
❌ «La clase empieza a las ocho de la tarde.» (it’s clearly 8 AM)
❌ «Son las cinco y cuarenta y cinco de la mañana.» (should use menos)
❌ «¿Qué hora son?»
10
Your Daily Schedule: Describe your real day in Spanish!
Instructions: Use what you’ve learned to describe your own real daily routine. Include at least three specific times with de la mañana / tarde / noche. Write at least 3 sentences.
💡 Use phrases like: Me despierto a las…, Trabajo / Estudio de… a las…, Como a la / las…, Me duermo a las…
Now answer this: ¿A qué hora es tu momento favorito del día y por qué? (What time of day is your favorite and why?)
Ready to Practice This Live? 🗣️
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