la hora actual
/la oɾa aɡtwal/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the current time" is translated into Spanish as la hora actual.
You use la hora actual to refer to the specific time of day at this exact moment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine article la (the), the noun hora (hour/time) and the adjective actual (current/present).
Which one should you use?
While la hora actual refers to the specific time of day right now, el tiempo actual would refer to the current era or current weather/climate.
How do you pronounce it?
/la oɾa aɡtwal/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word actual is a false friend of the English 'actual'. While the English word means 'real' or 'true', the Spanish word only means 'current' or 'present'.
- If a Spanish speaker says they have tiempo, they might mean they have 'free time' or they might be talking about the 'weather'.
- If you use la hora actual to ask someone for the time, you will sound like a technical manual or a robot. In real life, a Spaniard or Mexican would simply ask ¿Qué hora es?
Examples in context
- Son las tres.It is three o'clock.
- Es la una.It is one o'clock.
- Son las tres y pico.It is around three o'clock.
- son las ocho de la mañanaIt is eight in the morning.
- Son las cinco y media.It is five thirty.
- Son las diez y cuarto.It is ten fifteen.
- Son las doce menos veinte.It is twenty to twelve.
- Son las cuatro y pico.It is around four o'clock.
- Es la una y media.It is one thirty.
- La hora actual se muestra en la pantalla.The current time is shown on the screen.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are checking a schedule together.
- MateoLucía, ¿sabes cuál es la hora actual?Lucía, do you know what the current time is?
- LucíaSí, son las tres de la tarde.Yes, it is three in the afternoon.
- MateoEntonces llegamos justo a tiempo.Then we arrived just in time.
- LucíaTienes razón, Mateo.You are right, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries actual, hora, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
