horas
/oɾas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hours" is translated into Spanish as horas.
When telling time informally, you can use las followed by the hour to express the time. To say "half past" a specific hour, add y media after the hour. If you want to express how many minutes are remaining until the next hour, use menos followed by the number of minutes. In informal situations, you may also use the phrase ¿Qué horas son? to ask "What time is it?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is hora, while the plural is horas. When expressing the quantity of one hour, use the singular una hora rather than una horas.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɾas/
Did you know?
- The phrase hora loca refers to a high-energy, costume-filled-party segment common in many Spanish-speaking celebrations.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you make an appointment for las ocho, arriving at exactly 8:00 may be seen as too early for social gatherings.
- While English speakers use 'o'clock', Spanish uses en punto to indicate a precise hour, which literally translates to 'on point'.
Examples in context
- Lo hará en 24 horas.She'll do it in 24 hours.This example shows how to use horas when discussing a duration of 24 hours.Tatoeba #2021089 by Shishir, translation #310130 by CK
- Canté por dos horas.I sang for two hours.This sentence demonstrates the use of horas to describe a duration of two hours.Tatoeba #2110484 by marcelostockle, translation #1098515 by cntrational
- Vuelvo en dos horas.I'll be back in two hours.This sentence uses horas to indicate a return time in two hours.Tatoeba #2704593 by Shishir, translation #72863 by CK
- Son las tres de la mañana.It's three o'clock in the morning.
- Son las siete de la noche.It's seven o'clock in the evening.
- Son las diez y media de la mañana.It's ten-thirty in the morning.
- Las dos de la tarde.Two o'clock in the afternoon.
- Las siete de la noche.Seven o'clock in the evening.
- Las diez y media de la mañana.Ten-thirty in the morning.
- Son las nueve y media de la noche.It's half past nine in the evening.
- Son las tres menos cuarto de la tarde.It's a quarter to three in the afternoon.
- 543 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about a long flight.
- AlejandroEl vuelo dura muchas horas.The flight lasts many hours.
- Sofía¿Cuántas horas son exactamente?How many hours is it exactly?
- AlejandroSon unas diez horas.It is about ten hours.
- SofíaEs demasiado tiempo.That is too much time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
