Es la hora de comer
/es la oɾa de komeɾ/from spelling rules
To say "it is lunch time" in Spanish, you use Es la hora de comer.
Es la hora de comer is used to state that it is the time of day when people usually eat lunch. While the verb comer generally means "to eat," in this specific context, it is the standard way to refer to lunchtime.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "It is the hour of eating."
Which one should you use?
You can also say Es la hora de almorzar, which uses the specific verb for having lunch (almorzar) instead of the general verb for eating.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some other Latin American countries, you may hear Es la hora del lonche. In these regions, lonche is used to refer to a light lunch or a snack.
How do you pronounce it?
/es la oɾa de komeɾ/
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, la hora de comer refers to the main midday meal, which is often much later in the afternoon than in English-speaking countries.
Did you know?
- The word es is a cognate of the Sanskrit word अस्ति, meaning it shares a common ancestor from Proto-Indo-European.
- The word lonche used in some Latin American regions is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'lunch'.
- In Spain, saying voy a comer specifically means 'I am going to eat lunch' even if the actual time of day is unusual.
Examples in context
- Por favor, no hagas llamadas durante la hora de comer.Please do not make calls during lunch time.
- Hoy tenemos pizza para el almuerzo. ¡Es hora de comer!Today we have pizza for lunch. It's time to eat!
- Es la hora de comer, ¿tienes hambre?It is lunch time, are you hungry?
- Mira el reloj, es la hora de comer.Look at the clock, it is lunch time.
- Ya es la hora de comer en la oficina.It is already lunch time at the office.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are in a break room during the afternoon.
- MaríaEs la hora de comer, Daniel.It is lunch time, Daniel.
- DanielSí, María, tengo mucha hambre.Yes, María, I am very hungry.
- María¿Quieres ir a la cafetería?Do you want to go to the cafeteria?
- DanielClaro, vamos ahora mismo.Sure, let's go right now.
