reloj
/reˈlox/
The Spanish word reloj means a device used to measure and show the current time.
While it can refer broadly to either a wristwatch or a wall clock, speakers often use more specific phrases to avoid ambiguity, such as reloj de pulsera for a wristwatch or reloj de pared for a wall clock. It is also used in the specific phrase reloj de arena to mean an hourglass.
Which one should you use?
The term Cronómetro is used formally to refer specifically to a stopwatch or a timer used for precise timekeeping.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the word plural, change the ending to relojes.
How do you pronounce it?
/reˈlox/
Did you know?
- While most people think of time, the root of reloj actually comes from the Greek verb 'to speak' or 'to collect'. It describes a device that 'tells' or 'gathers' the hours.
- The word reloj entered the Spanish language through a borrowing from Old Catalan relotge around the year 1362.
- In Spanish, the letter 'j' almost never appears at the end of a word, making reloj a rare orthographic outlier in the entire language.
Examples in context
- Por favor, ¿me podría indicar la hora en su reloj?Could you please tell me the time on your watch?
- ¿Viste el relojito que se compró Juan? Es muy lindo.Did you see the cute little watch Juan bought? It's really nice.
- ¿Tienen relojes a la venta?Do you have any watches for sale?
- Perdí mi vuelo porque mi reloj estaba adelantado.I missed my flight because my watch was fast.
- El reloj se ha parado.The clock has stopped.
- El reloj de la pared es muy grande.The wall clock is very large.
- Necesito comprar un reloj nuevo.I need to buy a new watch.
- ¿Puedes mirar tu reloj, por favor?Can you check your watch, please?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are waiting for a train at the station.
- AlejandroElena, ¿qué hora es en tu reloj?Elena, what time is it on your watch?
- ElenaSon las tres de la tarde.It is three in the afternoon.
- AlejandroEl tren debe llegar pronto.The train should arrive soon.
- ElenaSí, el reloj de la estación dice que llega en cinco minutos.Yes, the station clock says it arrives in five minutes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry reloj, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries reloj, CC BY-SA 4.0.
