ya era hora
/ʝa eɾa oɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'about time' is translated into Spanish as ya era hora.
The phrase ya era hora is used to express impatience or relief that something has finally happened after a long delay.
Meaning: far past the desired time (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'it was already time'.
Which one should you use?
While ya era hora implies a delay has already passed (about time), ya es hora is a more neutral way to say 'it is time' for something to happen.
How does it change in a sentence?
When followed by a clause starting with 'de que', the verb must be in the subjunctive mood: ya era hora de que + [subjunctive].
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝa eɾa oɾa/
Did you know?
- While ya era hora is used for relief or impatience, Spanish speakers often pair the phrase with a dramatic sigh or a throw of the hands to emphasize the length of the wait.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying ya era hora to a guest who arrives late can be a playful 'social penalty' used to tease the person about their lack of punctuality.
- The word hora descends from the Ancient Greek word ὥρᾱ, which originally referred to a season or a specific time of day rather than a sixty-minute unit.
Examples in context
- Ya era hora de que te casaras.It is about time you married.This sentence shows the use of ya era hora to express that a marriage should have happened sooner.Tatoeba #874567 by Shishir, translation #68840 by Lumi_alt
- Ya era hora de que alguien apareciese.It's about time somebody showed up.This sentence shows the use of ya era hora to express relief that someone has appeared.Tatoeba #11373209 by NicoLXVI, translation #2871799 by CK
- Ya era hora de que fueras a la peluquería.It's about time you went to the barber's.This sentence shows the use of ya era hora to suggest a visit to the barber was overdue.Tatoeba #1685865 by teskmon, translation #1341429 by CK
- Llegaré a eso de las seis.I'll arrive around six.
- La película comienza a eso de las siete y media.The movie starts around seven-thirty.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are at a café waiting for a late friend.
- ElenaYa era hora de que llegara.It was about time he arrived.
- AlejandroSí, lleva media hora de retraso.Yes, he is half an hour late.
- ElenaEspero que no haya tenido un accidente.I hope he didn't have an accident.
- AlejandroNo, seguro que se quedó dormido.No, I'm sure he fell asleep.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries era, hora, ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
