tiempo
/ˈtjempo/masculine
To say time in Spanish, as in a length or amount of time, use tiempo. For example, Se acabó el tiempo. means time is up.
tiempo refers to time as duration or as an abstract idea. To ask the time on a clock, Spanish uses a different word: ¿Qué hora es? means what time is it.
Meaning: measurement of a quantity of time (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use tiempo for duration, but use vez when counting occurrences, as in one time or two times. tiempo can also mean weather, so context tells you which is meant.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
tiempo is a masculine noun and takes the article el, as in el tiempo. For an event at a set hour, use A las followed by the time and add De la mañana/tarde/noche after the hour for morning, afternoon or evening. Use menos for minutes before the hour.
How do you pronounce it?
tiempo is pronounced /ˈtjempo/, two syllables, with the stress on the first and a y sound after the t.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use tiempo to ask the time of day. Say ¿Qué hora es? instead.
Did you know?
- The English words 'tempo' and 'temperature' are distant relatives of tiempo. All three share a root meaning 'to stretch' or 'string'.
- In Spanish, the phrase 'once upon a time' is translated as había una vez, using the word for 'occurrence' rather than duration.
- In a musical context, Spanish speakers use the word tempo to describe the speed of a piece rather than the standard word tiempo.
Examples in context
- El tiempo es oro.Time is money.El tiempo es oro. is a saying, literally time is gold.Tatoeba #1581928 by termito2nd, translation #566026 by CK
- Él llegó a tiempo.He arrived in time.a tiempo means in time or on time.Tatoeba #1331680 by Shishir, translation #298380 by CK
- Se acabó el tiempo.Time is up.Se acabó el tiempo. is what you say when time runs out.Tatoeba #1400475 by marcelostockle, translation #31334 by CK
- Son las tres y media.It is three-thirty.
- Es la una.It is one o'clock.
- La reunión es a las nueve.The meeting is at nine.
- Es la una de la tarde.It is one o'clock in the afternoon.
- Son las siete y cuarto.It is seven fifteen.
- Es la una y media.It is one-thirty.
- La fiesta empieza a eso de las diez.The party starts around ten.
- Son las seis y veinte.It is six twenty.
- Son las dos y cincuenta.It is two fifty.
- Son las once menos diez.It is ten to eleven.
- Son las tres menos cuarto.It is a quarter to three.
- 2406 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about a work project.
- LucíaJavier, ¿tienes tiempo para ayudarme?Javier, do you have time to help me?
- JavierLo siento, Lucía, no tengo tiempo ahora.I am sorry, Lucía, I don't have time now.
- LucíaEstá bien, lo intentaré más tarde.That's okay, I will try later.
- JavierGracias por entender.Thanks for understanding.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “time” translations and entries tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
