la una de la madrugada
/la una de la madɾuɡada/from spelling rules
In Spanish, one AM is la una de la madrugada.
This phrase is used to specify the time during the late-night/early-morning hours when most people are sleeping.
Which one should you use?
While la una de la mañana is grammatically correct, la una de la madrugada is the much more natural way to specify 1:00 AM in Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, la una de la madrugada is used interchangeably with la una de la mañana to refer to one AM.
How do you pronounce it?
/la una de la madɾuɡada/
Did you know?
- The use of the feminine article la in la una is a hidden reference to the word hora, meaning 'the hour'. Even though hora is not spoken, it dictates the grammar of the time.
- The word madrugada is not just a time indicator, but it stems from the verb madrugar, which means 'to wake up very early'.
- While la una is singular, the phrase instantly switches to the plural las dos at 2:00 AM. This is because Spanish treats the number one as a singular entity but all other hours as a plural group.
Examples in context
- Vamos a encontrarnos a la una de la mañana en el café.Let's meet at one in the morning at the café.
- Es la una de la madrugada.It is one am.
- No puedo dormir, es la una de la madrugada.I cannot sleep, it is one am.
- Llegué a casa a la una de la madrugada.I arrived home at one am.
Example conversation
A late night phone call between friends.
- Lucía¿Por qué me llamas a la una de la madrugada?Why are you calling me at one am?
- AlejandroPerdona, Lucía, no quería despertarte.Sorry, Lucía, I didn't want to wake you up.
- LucíaNo pasa nada, pero estoy muy cansada.It's okay, but I am very tired.
- AlejandroLo siento, te llamo mañana, Lucía.I am sorry, I will call you tomorrow, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
