ocho y media
/ot͡ʃo i medja/from spelling rules
In Spanish, eight thirty is ocho y media.
The phrase is used to denote the time of day that is thirty minutes past eight o'clock.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ocho y media literally translates to 'eight and half'.
Which one should you use?
While ocho y media is the most common way to express this time, ocho y treinta is a more literal, digital-style alternative used when precision is required.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the time of day in a sentence, the phrase is typically preceded by the definite article las, such as in Son las ocho y media. To say 'at eight thirty', use the preposition a followed by the article las, forming a las ocho y media.
Did you know?
- The word media in this phrase is the feminine form of the Latin 'media', which is why it must agree with the implied feminine noun 'hora' (hour) even though it is not explicitly spoken.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, if you say ocho y media to describe a duration rather than a time of day, it means 'eight and a half' units, such as hours or kilometers.
- While ocho y media is common, speakers in some Latin American countries may use ocho treinta more frequently in casual speech than a textbook would suggest.
Examples in context
- Son las ocho y media.It's eight-thirty.This sentence shows how to state the current time using ocho y media.Tatoeba #4636668 by AucaCoyan, translation #4636491 by CK
- No empieza antes de las ocho y media.It doesn't start before eight thirty.This sentence uses ocho y media to indicate a starting time.Tatoeba #537298 by Shishir, translation #413542 by Scott
- El colegio empieza a las ocho y media.School starts at eight-thirty.This sentence uses ocho y media to specify when school begins.Tatoeba #7794733 by arh, translation #9193453 by DJ_Saidez
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing their breakfast time.
- Elena¿A qué hora desayunas?What time do you have breakfast?
- AlejandroSuelo desayunar a las ocho y media.I usually have breakfast at eight thirty.
- ElenaEs muy temprano para mí.That is very early for me.
- AlejandroSí, pero así tengo tiempo.Yes, but that way I have time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries media, ocho, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
