una y media
/una i medja/from spelling rules
The English phrase "one thirty" is translated into Spanish as una y media.
This phrase is used to express the time 1:30. While the most common way to say this time is una y media, you may also encounter una y treinta.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase una y media literally translates to "one and a half".
Which one should you use?
una y media is the most common way to express the time, whereas una y treinta sounds more digital or formal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In various Latin American countries, people may use la una y treinta more frequently, even in formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase to indicate a specific point in time, such as "at one thirty", the phrase is preceded by the definite article la to form la una y media.
Did you know?
- The word una is a direct descendant of the Proto-Indo-European word *óynos, which is the same ancient ancestor that gave English the word 'one'.
- While most hours in Spanish require the plural article las, such as in las dos, the phrase una y media stays singular because it refers to a single hour.
- The word una is the feminine form of 'one', which is required here because the implied word for 'hour', hora, is a feminine noun in Spanish.
Examples in context
- Almuerzo a la una y media.I eat lunch at one thirty.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use una y media to indicate a time for an activity.Tatoeba #7586132 by arh, translation #11180936 by DJ_Saidez
- La reunión comenzará a la una y media.The meeting will start at one thirty.
- La cita es a la una treinta en punto.The appointment is at one thirty sharp.
- Quedamos a las una y media en el café.Let's meet at one thirty at the café.
- El vuelo sale a la una y treinta de la tarde.The flight departs at one thirty in the afternoon.
- La cita es a la una y media.The appointment is at one thirty.
- Llegaré a tu casa a la una y media.I will arrive at your house at one thirty.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are planning their lunch meeting.
- Lucía¿A qué hora nos vemos?What time shall we meet?
- MateoNos vemos a la una y media.We will meet at one thirty.
- LucíaPerfecto, te veo allí.Perfect, I will see you there.
- MateoVale, hasta luego, Lucía.Okay, see you later, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries media, una, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
