A1 Spanish GrammarTime Expressions
Tell time and express dates in Spanish. Learn days of the week, months, how to ask and tell time, and essential time expressions like hoy, mañana, and ayer.
1Telling Time (La Hora)
Use ser to tell time. Es la una for 1:00 (singular), son las + number for other hours (plural). Add y for minutes past, menos for minutes to. Media = half, cuarto = quarter.
Telling Time
| Spanish | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Es la una | It's 1:00 | singular (la) |
| Son las dos | It's 2:00 | plural (las) |
| Son las tres y diez | It's 3:10 | y = past |
| Son las cuatro menos veinte | It's 3:40 | menos = to |
| Son las cinco y media | It's 5:30 | media = half |
| Son las seis y cuarto | It's 6:15 | cuarto = quarter |
Examples
¿Qué hora es?
What time is it?
asking the time
Son las ocho de la mañana.
It's 8 in the morning.
de la mañana = a.m.
Es la una y media.
It's 1:30.
la una (singular)
Son las diez menos cuarto.
It's 9:45 (quarter to ten).
menos cuarto = -15
2Days of the Week
Days of the week are masculine and not capitalized. Use el + day for 'on' a specific day, los + day for habitual actions. The week starts with lunes (Monday) in Spanish-speaking countries.
Days of the Week
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| lunes | Monday | viernes | Friday |
| martes | Tuesday | sábado | Saturday |
| miércoles | Wednesday | domingo | Sunday |
| jueves | Thursday |
Examples
Hoy es lunes.
Today is Monday.
no article with hoy es
El martes tengo clase.
On Tuesday I have class.
el = on (specific)
Los sábados duermo tarde.
On Saturdays I sleep late.
los = every Saturday
¿Qué día es hoy?
What day is today?
asking the day
3Months and Dates
Months are masculine and not capitalized. Use el + cardinal number for dates (except 'primero' for the 1st). The format is: el + number + de + month + de + year.
Months
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| enero | January | julio | July |
| febrero | February | agosto | August |
| marzo | March | septiembre | September |
| abril | April | octubre | October |
| mayo | May | noviembre | November |
| junio | June | diciembre | December |
Examples
Es el primero de enero.
It's January 1st.
primero for 1st only
Mi cumpleaños es el 15 de marzo.
My birthday is March 15th.
el + number + de + month
¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy?
What's today's date?
asking the date
Estamos en abril.
We're in April.
en + month
4Common Time Expressions
These expressions are essential for talking about when things happen. Learn hoy (today), mañana (tomorrow), ayer (yesterday), and time of day expressions (por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche).
Time Expressions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| hoy | today |
| mañana | tomorrow |
| ayer | yesterday |
| ahora | now |
| por la mañana | in the morning |
| por la tarde | in the afternoon/evening |
| por la noche | at night |
| esta semana | this week |
Examples
Hoy es mi cumpleaños.
Today is my birthday.
hoy = today
Mañana no trabajo.
Tomorrow I don't work.
mañana = tomorrow
Estudio por la noche.
I study at night.
por la noche = at night
¿A qué hora llegas?
What time do you arrive?
a qué hora = at what time