p. m. y a. m.
The English phrase "pm and am" is translated into Spanish as p. m. y a. m.
These abbreviations are used to indicate whether a time is in the morning or in the afternoon and evening. When listing these abbreviations together in Spanish, the conjunction y (and) is used between them.
How does it change in a sentence?
The abbreviation a. m. stands for the Latin phrase ante meridiem, meaning 'before midday', while p. m. stands for the Latin phrase post meridiem, meaning 'after midday'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid writing these without periods like in English. The formal Spanish standard recommends using periods between the letters: a. m. and p. m.
Did you know?
- While p. m. is understood, Spanish speakers often prefer the phrase de la tarde for afternoon and de la noche for evening to avoid ambiguity.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the 24-hour clock is the standard for official schedules, flights and trains, making a. m. and p. m. unnecessary in formal writing.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, people rarely use these abbreviations in speech, preferring to say 'de la mañana' or 'de la tarde' to avoid any ambiguity.
Examples in context
- las ocho de la mañana8:00 AM
- La conferencia está programada para las diez de la mañana.The conference is scheduled for 10 AM.
- El vuelo a Madrid sale a las quince horas.The flight to Madrid leaves at 3 PM.
- Nos vemos a las ocho de la noche para cenar.Let's meet at 8 PM for dinner.
- Escribe siempre p. m. y a. m. al dar la hora.Always write a. m. and p. m. when giving the time.
- Debes diferenciar entre p. m. y a. m. en el horario.You must differentiate between a. m. and p. m. in the schedule.
- No olvides poner p. m. y a. m. en el documento.Don't forget to put a. m. and p. m. in the document.
