la una de la tarde
/la una de la taɾde/from spelling rules
One in the afternoon in Spanish is la una de la tarde.
la una de la tarde is used to describe the specific time of day that is one hour after midday. The phrase de la tarde specifically means in the afternoon/evening.
Which one should you use?
la una de la tarde is used for 1:00 PM, whereas la una de la madrugada would be used to refer to 1:00 AM.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the number one is expressed using the feminine singular article la because it refers to la una (the one o'clock hour). To say "at one in the afternoon", you must add the preposition a to the beginning, resulting in a la una de la tarde.
How do you pronounce it?
/la una de la taɾde/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, 'la una de la tarde' is often the time when the 'siesta' begins, meaning you might find shops closed during this hour.
- Spanish uses the singular la una for 1:00, but switches to the plural las for every other hour from 2:00 to 12:00.
- While la una de la tarde is 1:00 PM, the word tarde can extend until sunset. In some Spanish-speaking cultures, this can be as late as 8:00 or 9:00 PM.
Examples in context
- ¿A qué hora quedamos para almorzar? – Es la una de la tarde.What time should we meet for lunch? – One in the afternoon.
- Nos vemos a la una de la tarde.We will see each other at one in the afternoon.
- La cita es a la una de la tarde.The appointment is at one in the afternoon.
- Almuerzo siempre a la una de la tarde.I always have lunch at one in the afternoon.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a time to meet for lunch.
- Lucía¿A qué hora es el almuerzo, Javier?What time is lunch, Javier?
- JavierEs a la una de la tarde.It is at one in the afternoon.
- LucíaPerfecto, estaré allí puntual.Perfect, I will be there on time.
- JavierMuy bien, nos vemos entonces.Very well, see you then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
