diez y cuarenta y cinco
/djeθ i kwaɾenta i θinko/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'ten forty-five' is expressed in Spanish as diez y cuarenta y cinco.
This phrase is used to state the time when it is forty-five minutes past ten o'clock. To specify the time of day, you can add different phrases: add de la mañana to indicate it is in the morning, de la tarde for the afternoon or evening and de la noche to indicate it is at night. You can also express this time by saying it is a quarter to eleven using the phrase menos cuarto.
How does it change in a sentence?
When stating the time in a full sentence, you must use the plural verb form son las before the hour because the hour is greater than one, as in son las diez y cuarenta y cinco.
How do you pronounce it?
/djeθ i kwaɾenta i θinko/
Did you know?
- The word cinco shares a linguistic root with the word ponche, an English word for a mixed fruit drink.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you tell someone to meet at diez y cuarenta y cinco for a social event, arriving exactly at that time may be considered too early.
- When stating the time, Spanish uses the feminine plural article las before the hour, which is a remnant of the Latin word for 'hours' (horas) that is now omitted from the phrase.
Examples in context
- Son las diez y cuarenta y cinco.It is ten forty-five.
- La película empieza a las diez y cuarenta y cinco.The movie starts at ten forty-five.
- Tengo una cita a las diez y cuarenta y cinco.I have an appointment at ten forty-five.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are discussing their meeting time.
- ElenaMateo, ¿a qué hora nos vemos?Mateo, what time are we meeting?
- MateoNos vemos a las diez y cuarenta y cinco.We'll see each other at ten forty-five.
- ElenaEstá bien, te veo entonces.That's fine, I'll see you then.
- MateoPerfecto, hasta luego, Elena.Perfect, see you later, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cinco, cuarenta, diez, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
