tres y cuarto
/tɾes i kwaɾto/from spelling rules
To say three fifteen in Spanish, use tres y cuarto.
The phrase is used to state that the time is fifteen minutes past three o'clock. In Spanish, the word cuarto is used to represent 15 minutes.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, tres y cuarto means "three and a quarter", composed of the number tres (three), the conjunction y (and) and the noun cuarto (quarter).
Which one should you use?
You can say las tres y quince to state the time using the literal number fifteen.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase to state the time, the definite article las is typically used before the hour, as in las tres y cuarto.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾes i kwaɾto/
Did you know?
- The word cuarto is used for both a 'quarter' of an hour and a 'room' in a house.
- The use of the feminine plural article las before tres happens because the word for hours, horas, is feminine and plural, even though it is omitted.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you can say un cuarto para las cuatro to mean it is 3:45, meaning a 'quarter' remains before four.
Examples in context
- Son las tres y cuarto.It is three fifteen.
- La cita es a las tres y cuarto.The appointment is at three fifteen.
- Nos vemos a las tres y cuarto.We will see each other at three fifteen.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are checking their schedules for a meeting.
- Alejandro¿A qué hora es la reunión?What time is the meeting?
- SofíaEs a las tres y cuarto.It is at three fifteen.
- AlejandroPerfecto, estaré allí puntual.Perfect, I will be there on time.
- SofíaMuy bien, hasta luego.Very well, see you later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuarto, tres, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
