What does it mean word for word?
The phrase momentos del día is composed of momentos (moments), del (of the) and día (day).
Which one should you use?
While momentos del día is a literal translation for moments of the day, you may also encounter horas del día, which translates to 'hours of the day' and is frequently used when referring to specific clock times or the passage of hours.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you wish to refer to a single 'time of day' rather than multiple times, use the singular form momento del día. When referring to days of the week, remember to use 'el' before the name, such as el lunes for Monday.
When do people say it?
The term la siesta refers to the traditional Spanish custom of taking a short nap after lunch. To greet someone in the morning, it is common to use ¡Buenos días! (Good morning!).
Did you know?
- While the English word 'day' comes from Germanic roots, the Spanish word día is actually a distant relative of the word for 'sky' or 'heaven' in Proto-Indo-European.
- While la tarde means 'afternoon', in many Spanish-speaking cultures it extends until the sun actually sets, meaning la noche may not start until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.
- Depending on the country, la madrugada can be used to describe the very late hours of the night, such as 2 a.m., rather than just the hours before dawn.
Examples in context
- Me desperté muy temprano en la madrugada para ver el amanecer.I woke up very early in the early morning to watch the sunrise.
- Cada amanecer en la playa es una experiencia mágica.Every sunrise at the beach is a magical experience.
- Caminar por la mañana temprano me ayuda a comenzar el día lleno de energía.Walking in the early morning helps me start the day full of energy.
- Al mediodía, comimos una deliciosa paella en el restaurante local.At noon, we had a delicious paella at the local restaurant.
- Prefiero los momentos del día con poca luz.I prefer the times of day with little light.
- Hay muchos momentos del día para descansar.There are many times of day to rest.
Example conversation
Javier and María are discussing their daily schedules.
- Javier¿Qué momentos del día son mejores para ti?Which times of day are better for you?
- MaríaA mí me gustan las mañanas, Javier.I like the mornings, Javier.
- JavierYo prefiero la noche.I prefer the night.
- MaríaCada uno tiene sus momentos favoritos.Each one has their favorite moments.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries del, día, CC BY-SA 4.0.
