una hora específica
/una oɾa espeθifika/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "a specific time" is said as una hora específica.
This phrase is used to refer to a particular point in time or a precise hour of the day. When specifying the time of day, Spanish speakers use de la mañana for the morning, de la tarde for the afternoon and de la noche for the night. To refer to noon, most speakers use mediodía.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "a specific hour" because Spanish often uses hora (hour) to denote a specific point in time.
Which one should you use?
The term una hora concreta can be used as a synonym for una hora específica when you want to refer to a precise or concrete time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective específica must agree in gender with the feminine noun hora.
How do you pronounce it?
/una oɾa espeθifika/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, specifying una hora específica for a social gathering may be treated as a rough guideline rather than a strict appointment.
- The word hora can be used in the phrase a la hora, which can mean 'immediately' or 'right away' depending on the regional context.
- The word hora shares its ancient roots with the Greek word ὥρᾱ (hṓrā), which originally referred to a season or a fixed period of time.
Examples in context
- He oído que es mejor siempre alimentar a tu perro a una hora específica todos los días.I've heard that it is best to always feed your dog at a specific time every day.This sentence shows how to use una hora específica when discussing daily routines.Tatoeba #1348773 by marcelostockle, translation #898586 by CK
- Son las tres y media de la tarde.It's 3:30 p.m.
- La reunión es a las nueve y cuarto de la mañana.The meeting is at 9:15 a.m.
- Son las cinco y media de la tarde.It's 5:30 p.m.
- Son las nueve menos cuarto de la mañana.It's 8:45 a.m.
- Son las dos de la tarde.It's 2:00 p.m.
- La conferencia empieza a las diez y media de la mañana.The conference starts at 10:30 a.m.
- La cita es a las nueve menos cuarto de la noche.The appointment is at 8:45 p.m.
- Son las siete y media de la mañana.It's 7:30 a.m.
- Quedamos a las cuatro menos cuarto de la tarde.Let's meet at 3:45 p.m.
- Es la una en punto de la noche.It's precisely 1:00 a.m.
- Necesito que el paquete llegue a una hora específica.I need the package to arrive at a specific time.
- No podemos fijar una hora específica para la reunión.We cannot set a specific time for the meeting.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are planning a dinner date.
- AlejandroMe gustaría cenar contigo, pero no tengo una hora específica.I would like to have dinner with you, but I don't have a specific time.
- Lucía¿Y si nos vemos a las ocho?What if we meet at eight?
- AlejandroPerfecto, esa es una hora específica que me conviene.Perfect, that is a specific time that works for me.
- LucíaDe acuerdo, Alejandro, nos vemos entonces.Alright, Alejandro, see you then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hora, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
