una y quince
/una i kinθe/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for one fifteen is una y quince.
This phrase is used to express that the time is 1:15.
Which one should you use?
In many Spanish-speaking regions, it is more common to say la una y cuarto (one and a quarter) instead of una y quince to express 1:15.
How does it change in a sentence?
You must use the singular la or una because one is a singular hour.
How do you pronounce it?
/una i kinθe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the plural las when referring to one o'clock, such as in the incorrect form las una y quince.
Did you know?
- The word quince shares a common ancestor with the English word 'five', tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *pénkʷe.
- In Spanish, time is treated as a feminine noun, which is why you must use una instead of the masculine uno when telling the time.
- In certain regions, people might say una y cuarto even when writing 1:15 on a digital screen, preferring the traditional phrasing over the numerical one.
Examples in context
- La clase empieza a la una y quince.The class starts at 1:15.
- Nos vemos a la una y quince.See you at 1:15.
Example conversation
Javier and María are coordinating a meeting time.
- JavierHola María, ¿a qué hora quedamos?Hi María, what time shall we meet?
- MaríaPuedo a la una y quince.I can do one fifteen.
- JavierPerfecto, nos vemos a esa hora.Perfect, I'll see you at that time.
- MaríaVale, hasta luego.Okay, see you later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quince, una, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
