How to Say “Half Past Nine” in Spanish

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las nueve y media
/las nwebe i medja/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'half past nine' is expressed in Spanish as las nueve y media.
The phrase refers to the time that is thirty minutes after nine o'clock. The word media specifically means 'half.'

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the feminine plural article las (the), the number nueve (nine), the conjunction y (and) and media (half).

Which one should you use?

While las nueve y media is the most common way to say half past nine, you may encounter las nueve y treinta, which is a more digital-style, literal way to say nine thirty.

Did you know?

  • The word media is the feminine form of the adjective, because it refers to the hidden noun hora which means 'hour'.
  • The word nueve shares a common ancestor with the English word 'nine' and the Greek word 'ennéa', all tracing back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.

Examples in context

  • Son las nueve y media.
    It's half past nine.
    The sentence is useful for stating what time it is using las nueve y media.
    Tatoeba #2151751 by Shishir, translation #8507376 by Adelpa
  • El desayuno es a las nueve y media.
    Breakfast is at half past nine.
    The sentence is useful for stating the time of an event using las nueve y media.
    Tatoeba #1400906 by marcelostockle, translation #1400896 by CM
  • Son las nueve y media de la mañana. Debemos empezar la reunión.
    It is half past nine in the morning. We should start the meeting.
  • La conferencia está programada para las nueve y media de la noche.
    The conference is scheduled for half past nine in the evening.
  • Las nueve y media, ¡es hora de ver nuestra serie favorita!
    It's half past nine, it's time to watch our favorite series!
  • Hasta las 9:30 no pasaré por tu casa.
    I won't come by your house until half past nine.
  • La película empieza a las nueve y media.
    The movie starts at half past nine.

Example conversation

Elena and Mateo are talking about a train schedule.

  1. Elena

    ¿A qué hora sale el tren?
    What time does the train leave?
  2. Mateo

    Sale a las nueve y media.
    It leaves at half past nine.
  3. Elena

    Entonces tenemos que irnos ya.
    Then we have to leave now.
  4. Mateo

    Sí, no quiero perderlo.
    Yes, I don't want to miss it.

Sources

  • IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries las, media, nueve, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
  • Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
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Theresa Meredith
Theresa MeredithHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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