hora exacta
/oɾa eɡsaɡta/from spelling rules
The phrase exact time in Spanish is translated as hora exacta.
hora exacta is used to specify the precise hour and minute of the current time.
Which one should you use?
While hora exacta literally means exact time, in many contexts, Spanish speakers may simply say la hora if the need for precision has already been established in the conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because hora is a feminine noun, when you are referring to the exact time as a specific noun phrase, you must use the feminine definite article la to form la hora exacta.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɾa eɡsaɡta/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word hora shares a root with the Greek goddess Horae, who presided over the seasons and the natural divisions of time.
- In Spanish, if you confuse la hora exacta with el tiempo exacto, you are asking for the exact amount of time spent on a task or the duration of an event rather than the clock time.
- The word hora is used in the phrase dar la hora, which can mean both to tell someone the time and for a clock to chime the hour.
Examples in context
- Son las 14:30.It's 2:30 PM.
- ¿Sabes la hora exacta?Do you know the exact time?
- Dime la hora exacta, por favor.Tell me the exact time, please.
- No sé la hora exacta en este momento.I don't know the exact time at this moment.
- Necesito saber la hora exacta de la cita.I need to know the exact time of the appointment.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are waiting for a bus.
- DanielLucía, ¿sabes la hora exacta?Lucía, do you know the exact time?
- LucíaSí, son las tres y diez.Yes, it is three ten.
- DanielGracias, el autobús llega a esa hora exacta.Thanks, the bus arrives at that exact time.
- LucíaEntonces ya casi está aquí.Then it is almost here.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
