Time Prepositions: a las, en

Spanish uses a and en to organize time differently than English. In English, we use 'at' for clock times and 'in' for months or years. Spanish follows a similar logic but with its own flair. The preposition a usually points to a specific point on the clock. It’s like a laser beam hitting a target. On the other hand, en is for larger containers of time. Think of en as a big box. You put months, years, and seasons inside that box. You wouldn't try to fit a tiny clock hand into a giant box, right? That’s why we don't use en for hours. It just doesn't fit the vibe. Most of the time, a will be followed by an article like las. This is because hours are feminine and plural in Spanish. The only exception is one o'clock, which is singular. For en, you usually jump straight to the month or year. It’s direct and efficient. You’ll find that once you get the rhythm, it becomes second nature. It’s all about the scale of time you’re talking about.

1. 1For clock times (except 1:00), use a las + [number]. Example: a las tres.
2. 2For 1:00, use a la una. It’s the only singular hour, so it gets a singular article.
3. 3For months, use en + [month]. Example: en mayo.
4. 4For years, use en + [year]. Example: en 2025.
5. 5For seasons, use en + [season]. Example: en el verano. Note the extra el here!
6. 6To say 'at noon' or 'at midnight', use al mediodía or a la medianoche.
7. 7When combining time and day, use el for the day first. Example: el lunes a las cinco.
8. 8Don't forget that a + el becomes al. This happens with al mediodía.

Use a las whenever you have a specific appointment. Are you ordering a pizza for 8:00 PM? Use a las ocho. Are you meeting a date at 7:00? Use a las siete. It’s perfect for flight departures, movie times, and class schedules. If it’s on a digital clock, a las is your best friend. Use en when you’re talking about the bigger picture. Are you planning a trip in December? That’s en diciembre. Did you graduate in 2020? That’s en 2020. Are you more of a summer person? You’ll be busy en el verano. It’s also great for talking about life stages. 'I started working here in March' becomes Empecé a trabajar aquí en marzo. It’s the go-to for anything that lasts longer than a day. It sets the scene for your story. It gives your listener the context they need without getting bogged down in minutes and seconds.

This is where things get spicy. Do not use en for days of the week. In English, we say 'on Monday'. In Spanish, we just say 'the Monday' (el lunes). If you say en lunes, people will know you're a beginner. It’s a classic mistake that makes native speakers tilt their heads like confused puppies. Also, don't use a for general times of day like 'in the morning'. For those, we use por. So, it’s por la mañana, not a la mañana. However, if you have a specific time *within* the morning, you go back to a las. For example: a las nueve de la mañana. It’s a bit of a balancing act. Also, avoid using a for months. You can't say a mayo. That sounds like you're talking to the month of May. And unless you're a wizard, that won't work. Stick to en for the calendar and a for the clock. Your Spanish will sound much more natural and fluid.

The biggest mistake is saying en las [time]. You might think 'in the two' makes sense because of English 'in'. But in Spanish, it’s always a las. It’s like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Another one is forgetting the la for 1:00. People often say a las una. But una is singular! It’s lonely. It needs la. So, a la una is the way to go. Don't let the other hours bully the number one into being plural. Also, watch out for the seasons. While months don't need an article (en enero), seasons usually do (en el invierno). Leaving out the el or la for seasons is a common slip-up. Finally, remember that a and en don't mix. You don't need both. Pick the one that fits the timeframe. If you're unsure, ask yourself: 'Is this a clock or a calendar?' Clock = a. Calendar = en.

Let’s compare a las with por. You use a las for the exact moment. You use por for a general range. A las ocho is precise. Por la mañana is vague. It’s the difference between a sniper and a shotgun. Then there’s de. We use de to show a range: de las tres a las cinco (from three to five). Here, a works with de to create a bridge. Another contrast is with el for days. English uses 'on', Spanish uses 'the'. El sábado vs 'On Saturday'. It’s easy to get these swapped. Just remember that Spanish likes articles. It loves el, la, los, and las. They are the salt and pepper of the language. They make everything taste better. If you’re ever in doubt, adding an article is usually a safer bet than leaving it out.