once y diez
/onθe i djeθ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "eleven ten" is expressed in Spanish as once y diez.
This phrase is used to state the time when it is ten minutes past eleven o'clock. In natural conversation, it is most commonly used as part of the expression son las once y diez (it is eleven ten).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the number eleven (once), the conjunction 'and' (y) and the number ten (diez).
How do you pronounce it?
/onθe i djeθ/
Did you know?
- To say it is ten minutes to twelve instead of ten past eleven, a speaker might say las doce menos diez. This literally translates to 'the twelve minus ten'.
- In some cultures, the hour once is associated with a light snack or mid-morning break. This tradition stems from the historical practice of eating a small meal around 11 am.
- If you are describing the time in a very formal setting, you might use las once y diez with the article las, because the hours (except for one) are feminine in Spanish. This is because 'hora' (hour) is a feminine noun.
Examples in context
- Son las once y diezIt's eleven ten
- La reunión comenzará a las once y diezThe meeting will start at eleven ten
- Quedamos a las once y diez en el caféLet's meet at eleven ten at the cafe
- Te veo a las diez pasadas las onceI'll see you at ten past eleven
- El tren sale a las once y diez.The train leaves at eleven ten.
- Nos vemos a las once y diez.We will see each other at eleven ten.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are checking the time before a meeting.
- María¿Qué hora es, Mateo?What time is it, Mateo?
- MateoSon las once y diez.It is eleven ten.
- María¡Es tarde para la reunión!It is late for the meeting!
- MateoNo te preocupes, María, llegamos a tiempo.Don't worry, María, we are on time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diez, once, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
