las doce menos cuarto
/las doθe menos kwaɾto/from spelling rules
The English phrase "eleven forty-five" is expressed in Spanish as las doce menos cuarto.
This phrase is used to state the time as fifteen minutes before twelve o'clock.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase las doce menos cuarto literally translates to "twelve minus a quarter".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American dialects, un cuarto para las doce is used instead of las doce menos cuarto to express the same time.
How do you pronounce it?
/las doθe menos kwaɾto/
Did you know?
- While cuarto refers to a quarter of an hour here, it is also the standard Spanish word for a 'room' in a house.
- The word doce comes from the Latin 'duodecim', which is a combination of 'duo' and 'decem', meaning 'two and ten'.
- In many regions, rather than using the fractional cuarto, people simply state the digital time as las once y cuarenta y cinco, avoiding the 'minus' construction entirely.
Examples in context
- Son las doce menos cuarto.It is eleven forty-five.
- El tren sale a las doce menos cuarto.The train leaves at eleven forty-five.
- Nos vemos a las doce menos cuarto en la puerta.We will see each other at eleven forty-five at the door.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucia are planning their lunch meeting.
- Mateo¿A qué hora almorzamos, Lucía?What time are we having lunch, Lucia?
- LucíaQuedamos a las doce menos cuarto.Let's meet at eleven forty-five.
- MateoPerfecto, Mateo llegará puntual.Perfect, Mateo will arrive on time.
- LucíaMuy bien, nos vemos entonces.Very well, see you then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuarto, doce, las, menos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
