Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| en el sentido de las agujas del reloj | /en el sentido de las aɡuxas del ɾelox/ (from spelling rules) |
| en sentido horario | /en sentido oɾaɾjo/ (from spelling rules) |
| dextrorsamente | /deɡstɾoɾsamente/ (from spelling rules) |
| dextrógiramente | /deɡstɾoxiɾamente/ (from spelling rules) |
| conforme a las manecillas del reloj | /konfoɾme a las maneθiʝas del ɾelox/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /konfoɾme a las manesiʝas del ɾelox/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| en el sentido del reloj | /en el sentido del ɾelox/ (from spelling rules) |
The term describes moving or turning in a circular fashion in the same direction as the hands of an analogue clock. You can use phrases like en el sentido de las agujas del reloj or en sentido horario to indicate this direction.
Which one should you use?
En el sentido de las agujas del reloj and en el sentido del reloj are ways to describe the motion by referencing the clock itself. En sentido horario is a version. There are also technical terms: dextrorsamente and dextrógiramente describe moving in a clockwise direction, while conforme a las manecillas del reloj is another way to express the concept. For describing something that is moving clockwise, you might use the adjectives dextrógiro, dextrorso or horario.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/en el sentido de las aɡuxas del ɾelox/
Did you know?
- While English uses 'hands' to describe clock parts, Spanish uses agujas, which literally translates to 'needles'.
- While English uses 'clock' as a root for 'clockwise', Spanish also uses the word horario to mean clockwise, which is the same word used for 'schedule' or 'timetable'.
- The word reloj was not originally a Spanish word, but was borrowed from Old Catalan relotge around 1362.
Examples in context
- ¿Cómo aprietas un tornillo, en sentido horario o antihorario?How do you tighten a screw, clockwise or counterclockwise?This sentence uses en sentido horario to ask about the direction of tightening a screw.Tatoeba #10106403 by manufrutos, translation #10099910 by CK
- ¿Cómo se aprieta este tornillo? ¿En el sentido de las agujas del reloj o en el sentido contrario a las agujas del reloj?How do you tighten this screw? Clockwise or counterclockwise?This sentence uses en el sentido de las agujas del reloj to ask about the direction of tightening a screw.Tatoeba #1310588 by wallebot, translation #9671261 by DJ_Saidez
- El movimiento de las estrellas en el hemisferio norte es en sentido de las agujas del reloj.The movement of the stars in the northern hemisphere is clockwise.
Example conversation
María is showing Mateo how to open a jar.
- MaríaMateo, gira la tapa en el sentido de las agujas del reloj.Mateo, turn the lid clockwise.
- MateoNo se mueve, está muy apretada.It's not moving, it's very tight.
- MaríaInténtalo con más fuerza ahora.Try it with more force now.
- Mateo¡Listo! Ya se abrió.Done! It opened now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clockwise” translations and entries en el sentido de las agujas del reloj, en sentido horario, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, del, el, en, las, reloj, sentido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
