decir la hora
/deθiɾ la oɾa/from spelling rules
In Spanish, to tell time is decir la hora.
The phrase is used to describe the ability to read a clock or watch to determine the time. When expressing a specific time, you can use mediodía for 12 o'clock noon and medianoche for 12 o'clock midnight. If you want to say it is approximately a certain hour in an informal context, you can use the structure Son las + hour + y pico to mean it is around that hour.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase decir la hora literally means "to say the hour", composed of the verb decir (to say), the definite article la (the) and the noun hora (hour/time).
How do you pronounce it?
/deθiɾ la oɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using contar la hora to mean tell time. English speakers often mistakenly use 'contar' (to count) instead of 'decir' (to say) when trying to translate 'tell time'.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking for the time is a common way to start a polite conversation with a stranger. This differs from some English-speaking cultures where such an approach might be seen as an intrusion.
- The Spanish verb decir comes from an ancient root meaning 'to show' or 'to point out'. This reflects the original act of indicating the time on a clock face rather than just speaking it.
- When using the informal expression y pico to say it is approximately a certain time, you are using a phrase that literally translates to 'and a bit' or 'and a morsel'.
Examples in context
- son las dos y veinteIt's two twenty
- son las cinco y diezIt's five ten
- Mi hijo ya sabe decir la hora.My son already knows how to tell time.
- ¿Sabes decir la hora en este reloj?Do you know how to tell time on this watch?
- Es difícil decir la hora con este reloj antiguo.It is difficult to tell time with this old watch.
Example conversation
Elena is helping Daniel's young son with a clock.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿tu hijo sabe decir la hora?Daniel, does your son know how to tell time?
- DanielNo, todavía no sabe decir la hora.No, he doesn't know how to tell time yet.
- ElenaYo puedo enseñarle hoy.I can teach him today.
- DanielEso sería genial, Elena.That would be great, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries decir, hora, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
