la hora del cuento
/la oɾa del kwento/from spelling rules
The English phrase storytime is translated into Spanish as la hora del cuento.
la hora del cuento is most commonly used in the context of children's activities, such as in a classroom or a library.
Meaning: time (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to the hour of the story.
Which one should you use?
While la hora del cuento refers to a single story, you can use la hora de los cuentos if you are referring to a time for reading multiple stories. For a more descriptive way to say storytelling time, you can use la hora de contar cuentos.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a time for multiple stories, change the singular del cuento to the plural de los cuentos.
Did you know?
- While la hora del cuento sounds peaceful, the word cuento is often used in street slang to describe a scam. A cuentista is not always a storyteller, but sometimes a professional con artist.
- In Spanish, the word cuento can be used to describe a lie or a tall tale. If someone tells you no me vengas con cuentos, they are telling you not to try and fool them with excuses.
- The word cuento shares a surprising ancestry with the English word 'compute'. It comes from the Latin 'computus', which originally referred to the act of counting or calculating.
Examples in context
- Estamos organizando una lectura de cuentos para los estudiantes de primaria.We are organizing a storytime for elementary students.
- Es la hora del cuento para los niños.It is storytime for the children.
- Mañana será la hora del cuento en la escuela.Tomorrow will be storytime at school.
- Me encanta la hora del cuento de la noche.I love the nightly storytime.
Example conversation
A mother and father are preparing their child for bed.
- LucíaJavier, ¿es ya la hora del cuento?Javier, is it storytime already?
- JavierSí, Lucía, el niño ya está listo.Yes, Lucía, the boy is already ready.
- LucíaEntonces, busquemos un libro divertido.Then, let's look for a fun book.
- JavierYo lo traigo ahora mismo.I will bring it right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuento, del, hora, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
