once y cincuenta de la mañana
/onθe i θinkwenta de la maɲana/from spelling rules
The English phrase "eleven fifty am" is translated into Spanish as once y cincuenta de la mañana.
This phrase refers to the specific time of day, ten minutes before noon. In casual conversation, speakers often omit the de la mañana (in the morning) part if the time of day is already clear, simply saying las once y cincuenta.
Which one should you use?
You use Las once cincuenta de la mañana. If you are stating that something occurs at that specific time, you use the prepositional form A las once cincuenta de la mañana. Alternatively, in an informal setting, one might say Casi las doce de la mañana (almost twelve in the morning).
How does it change in a sentence?
When stating the time within a full sentence, you must use the feminine plural article las before the number, as seen in the form las once y cincuenta de la mañana.
How do you pronounce it?
/onθe i θinkwenta de la maɲana/
Did you know?
- The word once is a homonym in Spanish, as it can also mean 'eleven' or refer to 'snack' time, due to the tradition of eating small treats at 11 am.
- Instead of saying once y cincuenta, Spanish speakers frequently use the phrase diez para las doce, which literally means 'ten for twelve'.
- In Spanish, the feminine plural article las is used before the time because it refers to the hidden word horas, meaning 'hours'.
Examples in context
- Son las once y cincuenta de la mañana.It is eleven fifty am.
- La cita es a las once y cincuenta de la mañana.The appointment is at eleven fifty am.
- Llegamos exactamente a las once y cincuenta de la mañana.We arrived exactly at eleven fifty am.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are checking the schedule for a meeting.
- Sofía¿A qué hora es la reunión, Javier?What time is the meeting, Javier?
- JavierEs a las once y cincuenta de la mañana.It is at eleven fifty am.
- SofíaPerfecto, tengo tiempo para un café.Perfect, I have time for a coffee.
- JavierSí, nos vemos allí pronto.Yes, see you there soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
