hora de la verdad
/oɾa de la beɾdad/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go time" can be translated into Spanish as hora de la verdad.
hora de la verdad is used to describe a decisive moment or a point of no return where one's abilities or the truth of a situation are tested.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many countries in Latin America, you might commonly hear Es hora de salir. In Spain, Es hora de comenzar is an alternative you may come across.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɾa de la beɾdad/
Did you know?
- If you are in a high-pressure situation in Spain, you might hear someone say a por ello as a way to say 'go get it' or 'go time', which is a very common idiomatic way to encourage action.
- The word hora shares a deep ancestry with the Ancient Greek word ὥρᾱ, which also referred to a period of time or a season.
- While hora de la verdad describes the moment of truth, Spanish speakers often use the phrase la hora de la verdad as a noun to describe a final exam or a critical job interview.
Examples in context
- ¿Listos para el concierto? Sí, es hora de irse.Ready for the concert? Yes, it's time to go.
- Ha llegado la hora de la verdad.The moment of truth has arrived.
- Es la hora de la verdad en el examen.It is the moment of truth during the exam.
- Mañana es la hora de la verdad para el equipo.Tomorrow is the moment of truth for the team.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are waiting outside an interview room.
- MaríaYa es la hora de la verdad, Alejandro.It is already the moment of truth, Alejandro.
- AlejandroEstoy muy nervioso por la entrevista.I am very nervous about the interview.
- MaríaTranquilo, tú puedes con esto.Calm down, you can do this.
- AlejandroGracias, voy a entrar ahora.Thanks, I am going in now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, hora, la, verdad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
