Welcome to this comprehensive tutorial on time vocabulary in Spanish! Whether you're a beginner looking to expand your vocabulary or an intermediate learner aiming to refine your understanding, this guide will cover everything you need to know about expressing time in Spanish. We'll explore various concepts related to time, including hours, days, months, seasons, and more. Let's get started!
1. Basic Time Expressions:
A. Hours:
In Spanish, just like in English, we use specific words to denote different hours of the day. Here are some common ones:
- Morning: mañana
- Afternoon: tarde
- Evening: tarde/noche
- Night: noche
B. Days of the Week:
Learning the days of the week is fundamental for expressing time. Here they are:
- lunes (Monday)
- martes (Tuesday)
- miércoles (Wednesday)
- jueves (Thursday)
- viernes (Friday)
- sábado (Saturday)
- domingo (Sunday)
C. Months of the Year:
Similarly, knowing the months of the year is essential. Here's the list:
- enero (January)
- febrero (February)
- marzo (March)
- abril (April)
- mayo (May)
- junio (June)
- julio (July)
- agosto (August)
- septiembre (September)
- octubre (October)
- noviembre (November)
- diciembre (December)
2. Expressing Specific Times:
A. Using "Son las" for Telling Time:
To express the time, you typically start with "Son las" (It is). For example:
- Son las tres (It is three o'clock)
- Son las ocho y media (It is eight thirty)
B. Minutes and Hours:
When telling time, you combine the hours and minutes. For instance:
- Es la una (It's one o'clock)
- Son las cuatro y cuarto (It's quarter past four)
C. Using "Menos" for Minutes Before the Hour:
To express minutes before the hour, use "menos" (minus). For example:
- Son las diez menos veinte (It's twenty minutes to ten)
3. Seasons and Time Periods:
A. Seasons:
Understanding the seasons is useful for discussing time-related activities. They are:
- primavera (spring)
- verano (summer)
- otoño (autumn/fall)
- invierno (winter)
B. Time Phrases:
When talking about time periods or events, you can use phrases like:
- Por la mañana (In the morning)
- Por la tarde (In the afternoon)
- Por la noche (At night)
4. Advanced Time Vocabulary:
A. Days of the Month:
Knowing how to express specific days of the month is essential. For example:
- el primero (the first)
- el quince (the fifteenth)
B. Relative Time:
When discussing relative time, use phrases like:
- Ayer (Yesterday)
- Hoy (Today)
- Mañana (Tomorrow)
C. Special Time Expressions:
Learn expressions like:
- A tiempo (On time)
- Tarde (Late)
- Temprano (Early)
5. Practice Exercises:
To reinforce your understanding, here are some exercises:
- Translate the following times into Spanish: 9:45 AM, 2:20 PM, 7:30 PM.
- Describe your daily routine using time expressions.
- Practice telling the time with a partner, taking turns asking and answering.
Congratulations! You've completed the comprehensive tutorial on time vocabulary in Spanish. By mastering these concepts and practicing regularly, you'll enhance your ability to express time accurately and confidently in Spanish. Keep practicing, and soon you'll become a pro at discussing time-related matters in Spanish! ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
