las diez y cuarto
/las djeθ i kwaɾto/from spelling rules
In Spanish, ten fifteen is expressed as las diez y cuarto.
The phrase is used to state that the time is fifteen minutes past ten o'clock.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cuarto literally means 'quarter' and is used here to denote a quarter of an hour.
Which one should you use?
While las diez y cuarto is the most common way to say ten fifteen, you can also say las diez y quince using the literal number fifteen.
How does it change in a sentence?
When telling the minutes, use y (meaning 'and') between the hour and the minutes.
How do you pronounce it?
/las djeθ i kwaɾto/
Did you know?
- The word cuarto in las diez y cuarto is the same word used for a 'room' in a house. This is because houses were historically divided into four or five sections.
- The feminine plural article las is used because it refers to the hidden word horas, meaning 'hours'.
- Depending on the dialect, the 'z' in diez can be pronounced as a 'th' sound in Spain or as an 's' sound in Latin America.
Examples in context
- Son las diez y quince, así que debemos comenzar la reunión.It's ten fifteen, so we should start the meeting.
- Nuestro vuelo sale a las diez y quince en punto.Our flight departs at ten fifteen exactly.
- ¿Llegas a las diez y cuarto?Are you arriving at ten fifteen?
- Quedamos a las diez y quince en el café.Let's meet at ten fifteen at the café.
- Son las diez y cuarto.It is ten fifteen.
- Nos vemos a las diez y cuarto.We will see each other at ten fifteen.
- La clase empieza a las diez y cuarto.The class starts at ten fifteen.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are waiting for a train at the station.
- Javier¿Sabes qué hora es?Do you know what time it is?
- LucíaCreo que son las diez y cuarto.I think it is ten fifteen.
- Javier¡Perfecto! El tren llega pronto.Perfect! The train is arriving soon.
- LucíaSí, estamos a tiempo.Yes, we are on time.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuarto, diez, las, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
