Telling Time: ¿Qué hora es? Son las...

In English, we say "It is." In Spanish, we use the verb ser. But here is the twist: time is feminine. Why? Because we are talking about la hora (the hour). Since hours can be plural, we usually say Son las. If it is just one o'clock, we say Es la. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means plural, red means singular. You will always use the feminine articles la or las. Never use el or los for time. It might feel weird at first. Just remember: hours are like ladies, always feminine. Even native speakers sometimes trip up when they are tired. Don't worry, you will get the hang of it quickly.

1. 1Learning to tell time follows a very specific recipe. Follow these steps to sound like a pro:
2. 2Start with the verb. Use Es for 1:00. Use Son for 2:00 through 12:00.
3. 3Add the article. Use la for 1:00. Use las for everything else.
4. 4Say the hour number. Example: Son las tres (It is 3:00).
5. 5Add minutes with y (and). Example: Son las tres y diez (It is 3:10).
6. 6For the half-hour, use media. Example: Son las cuatro y media (It is 4:30).
7. 7For quarter-hours, use cuarto. Example: Es la una y cuarto (It is 1:15).
8. 8After the 30-minute mark, you can subtract. Use the next hour plus menos (less). Example: Son las cinco menos diez (It is 4:50).

You will use this grammar in almost every daily interaction. Use it when ordering food and asking when the kitchen closes. Use it at a job interview to show you are punctual. It is essential for checking into a hotel or catching a flight. If you are meeting a friend for coffee, you need this. Even when checking your phone, you are mentally using this rule. It is the heartbeat of your daily schedule. If someone asks ¿Qué hora es?, you are ready to answer. It makes you look organized and polite. Plus, it helps you avoid being that person who is always late.

Do not use this for durations of time. If you want to say "I ran for two hours," do not use Son las. Instead, use por or durante. Also, do not use it for dates. Dates use a different structure with es el. Avoid using it when talking about age. You "have" years in Spanish; you aren't "the time" of years. It is strictly for the clock on the wall. Think of it like a specialized tool. You wouldn't use a hammer to eat soup. Only pull out Son las when the clock is involved. This keeps your Spanish clean and clear.

The biggest trap is the 1:00 hour. Many people say Son las una because they are used to the plural. Remember: one is a lonely, singular number. It must be Es la una. Another common slip is using doce for midnight without context. Is it noon or midnight? Use mediodía or medianoche to be safe. People also forget to use de la mañana or de la tarde. Spanish speakers rarely use AM or PM in speech. If you forget this, you might show up for dinner at 8:00 AM. That would be a very lonely breakfast! Finally, don't confuse cuarto (quarter) with cuatro (four). One is a fraction; the other is a number.

English uses "o'clock" to be precise. Spanish uses en punto. In English, we say "quarter past." In Spanish, we say y cuarto. The biggest difference is the subtraction method. English speakers say "ten to five." Spanish speakers say "five minus ten" (cinco menos diez). It is like a little math problem in your head. Also, English uses "It is" for everything. Spanish changes based on the number. This plural vs. singular distinction is the main hurdle. Once you jump it, the rest is easy. It is much more descriptive than English time-telling.