las once y cuarenta
/las onθe i kwaɾenta/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "eleven forty" is said as las once y cuarenta.
This phrase is used to state the time when it is forty minutes past eleven.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of the feminine plural article las (the), the number once (eleven), the conjunction y (and) and the number cuarenta (forty).
Which one should you use?
While las once y cuarenta is the standard way to state the time using the digital-style "hour and minutes" format, one could also say las doce menos veinte (twenty to twelve) to express the same time. Additionally, the phrase Diez para las doce (ten minutes to twelve) is an informal alternative used to express the same time.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal expression Diez para las doce is frequently used in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because hours in Spanish are treated as feminine plural nouns, the article las must be used.
How do you pronounce it?
/las onθe i kwaɾenta/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word once is used as a noun to refer to a mid-morning snack, because these treats were traditionally eaten at 11 am.
- The word cuarenta is a linguistic relative of the English word 'quarter', both tracing back to roots involving the number four.
- While las once y cuarenta is used in Spain, speakers in Latin America often use para instead of menos to say 'until' or 'to' when counting down to the next hour.
Examples in context
- Son las once y cuarenta.It's eleven forty.
- Son las diez para las doce.It's ten minutes to twelve.
- El tren sale a las once y cuarenta.The train leaves at eleven forty.
- Debemos llegar a las once y cuarenta.We must arrive at eleven forty.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are checking the schedule for their train.
- María¿A qué hora sale el tren, Daniel?What time does the train leave, Daniel?
- DanielSale a las once y cuarenta.It leaves at eleven forty.
- María¡Es muy pronto!That is very early!
- DanielSí, debemos irnos ya.Yes, we must go now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuarenta, las, once, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
