es medianoche
/es medjanot͡ʃe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "it is midnight" is translated into Spanish as es medianoche.
The phrase is used to state that the time is twelve o'clock at night.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the phrase Son las doce en punto de la noche is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can also be expressed using the definite article as es la medianoche.
How do you pronounce it?
/es medjanotʃe/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the arrival of medianoche on New Year's Eve is traditionally celebrated by eating twelve grapes, one for every strike of the clock.
- In some Latin American regions, the period around medianoche is associated with 'la hora muerta' or 'the dead hour', a time when the veil between worlds is said to be thinnest.
- The Latin ancestor of es, which is est, shares a common root with the Sanskrit word अस्ति (ásti). This connects the way you state 'it is' in Spanish to ancient, sacred languages.
Examples in context
- Es medianoche, hora de descansar.It is midnight, time to rest.
- Es medianoche, ¿quién quiere ir a dar una vuelta?It is midnight, who wants to go for a ride?
- ¡Ey, son las doce de la noche! ¡Hora de celebrar!Hey, it's midnight! Time to celebrate!
- Ya es medianoche.It is already midnight.
- No puedo creer que ya es medianoche.I can't believe it is already midnight.
- Mira el reloj, ya es medianoche.Look at the clock, it is midnight.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are studying late at night.
- SofíaMira el reloj, es medianoche.Look at the clock, it is midnight.
- AlejandroTienes razón, deberíamos descansar.You are right, we should rest.
- SofíaTerminemos este párrafo primero.Let's finish this paragraph first.
- AlejandroEstá bien, Sofía.Alright, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, medianoche, CC BY-SA 4.0.
