seis y cuarto
/seis i kwaɾto/from spelling rules
The English phrase "six fifteen" is translated into Spanish as seis y cuarto.
This phrase is used to state that the time is fifteen minutes past six o'clock. You can specify the time of day by adding de la mañana for 6:15 AM or de la tarde for 6:15 PM.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of the number 'six', the conjunction 'and' and the word for 'quarter'.
Which one should you use?
While seis y cuarto is the most common idiomatic way to say six fifteen, seis quince is a more literal, digital-style way to state the time.
How does it change in a sentence?
When stating the time in a full sentence, you must use the feminine plural article las before the number, resulting in las seis y cuarto.
How do you pronounce it?
/seis i kwaɾto/
Did you know?
- The word cuarto in seis y cuarto is the same word used to describe a room in a house. This is because rooms were historically seen as one of the four or five main sections of a home.
- While seis y cuarto is the standard way to tell time, using the literal seis quince is often restricted to formal schedules like airport departures and train timetables.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you want to be extremely precise or formal, such as in a radio broadcast, you might hear seis con quince instead of using the word for 'quarter'.
Examples in context
- La reunión comenzará a las seis y quince.The meeting will start at six fifteen.
- Nuestra cita es a las seis quince.Our appointment is at six fifteen.
- Pasa por mi casa a las seis y cuarto.Come by my house at six fifteen.
- Son las seis y cuarto.It is six fifteen.
- ¿A qué hora es la cita? A las seis y cuarto.What time is the appointment? At six fifteen.
- El tren sale a las seis y cuarto.The train leaves at six fifteen.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are planning their meeting time.
- Lucía¿A qué hora llegas, Alejandro?What time do you arrive, Alejandro?
- AlejandroLlego a las seis y cuarto.I arrive at six fifteen.
- LucíaEstá bien, te espero allí.That's fine, I'll wait for you there.
- AlejandroPerfecto, nos vemos pronto.Perfect, see you soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuarto, seis, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
