once y media
/onθe i medja/from spelling rules
Eleven thirty in Spanish is once y media.
This phrase is used to state the time when it is thirty minutes past eleven o'clock.
What does it mean word for word?
The word media in this context literally means 'half', referring to half of an hour.
Which one should you use?
While once y media is the most common way to say eleven thirty, once y treinta is also grammatically correct and used in more formal or precise contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in parts of Latin America, you may hear las once con treinta (eleven with thirty) used instead of using y to separate the hour and the minutes.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the hour of once was traditionally associated with a light snack or mid-morning break.
- In Spanish, the word media is the feminine form of 'half' because it describes the feminine noun hora, even though hora is omitted in once y media.
- While 'once y media' uses 'half', the word media also functions as a feminine adjective in Spanish, meaning 'middle' or 'average'.
Examples in context
- A las once y media del andén número uno.At eleven thirty from platform number one.This is useful for specifying a time and a location, using once y media.Tatoeba #434277 by lukaszpp, translation #434276 by lukaszpp
- La reunión empieza a las once y media.The meeting starts at eleven thirty.
- ¿Puedo pasar a verte a las once y media?Can I come see you at eleven thirty?
- La clase termina a las once y media.The class ends at eleven thirty.
- Nos vemos a las once y media en la cafetería.We will see each other at eleven thirty at the cafeteria.
Example conversation
Javier and María are planning their lunch break at work.
- Javier¿A qué hora es tu descanso?What time is your break?
- MaríaEs a las once y media.It is at eleven thirty.
- JavierPerfecto, te espero entonces.Perfect, I will wait for you then.
- MaríaVale, nos vemos pronto.Okay, see you soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries media, once, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
