Greetings! If you’re looking to expand your Spanish vocabulary and learn how to express time, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will dive into the formal and informal ways of saying “twelve fifty-five” in Spanish. While Spanish is widely spoken across various countries, we will focus on the standard form without delving into regional variations, unless necessary. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Expression: 12:55
Formal expressions are commonly used in official settings, professional environments, or when addressing someone with whom you are not familiar. To say “twelve fifty-five” formally in Spanish, you can use the following:
1. “Son las doce cincuenta y cinco.”
This is the most commonly used phrase when expressing the time formally. Let’s break it down:
“Son las” – This translates to “It is.”
“doce” – Equivalent to “twelve.”
“cincuenta y cinco” – Stands for “fifty-five.”
Combine these elements, and you have the complete phrase for “twelve fifty-five” in a formal context.
2. “Es la una menos cinco.”
Although it might not seem intuitive, this phrase literally translates to “It is one minus five.” It is worth noting that while most Spanish-speaking countries use the previous expression as the standard formal form, some countries, like Spain, may choose this alternative. Here’s a breakdown:
“Es la una” – This means “It is one.”
“menos” – Translates to “minus.”
“cinco” – Refers to “five.”
This phrase indicates that it is “five minutes to one.”
Informal Expression: 12:55
In informal situations, among friends, family, or when speaking with people you are familiar with, you can use more relaxed expressions to convey the time. Here are a couple of ways to say “twelve fifty-five” informally in Spanish:
1. “Mediodía menos cinco.”
This informal expression translates to “Five minutes to midday.” It is commonly used in regions where “mediodía” (midday) is a commonly understood term. Let’s break it down:
“Mediodía” – Refers to “midday.”
“menos” – Equivalent to “minus.”
“cinco” – Stands for “five.”
By combining these elements, you can effectively convey the time.
2. “Faltan cinco para la una.”
This phrase literally means “Five minutes are missing until one.” It is another commonly used way to convey the time informally. Here’s a breakdown:
“Faltan” – Translates to “are missing.”
“cinco” – Means “five.”
“para” – Equivalent to “for.”
“la una” – Refers to “one.”
By using this expression, you indicate that there are “five minutes until one.”
Additional Tips and Examples
Now that we’ve covered the formal and informal expressions for “twelve fifty-five,” let’s provide you with some additional tips and examples to further solidify your understanding:
Tips:
- When stating the time in Spanish, “es” (is) is usually used for one o’clock, and “son” (are) for any other hour.
- Minutes from one to thirty are expressed by stating how many minutes “there are” from the current hour, while minutes from thirty-one to fifty-nine are expressed by indicating how many minutes “are missing” to the next hour.
- The structure “son las” (for hours other than one) or “es la una” (for one o’clock) is followed by the number of hours, then “y” (and), followed by the minutes.
Examples:
Let’s provide a few examples of various times in Spanish using the phrases we’ve learned:
“Son las doce cincuenta y cinco.” – It is twelve fifty-five.
“Es la una menos cinco.” – It is five minutes to one.
“Mediodía menos cinco.” – It is five minutes to midday.
“Faltan cinco para la una.” – Five minutes are missing until one.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Continue listening to and repeating these phrases until they become second nature to you. Soon enough, expressing time in Spanish will become effortless.
We hope this comprehensive guide has been helpful in your endeavor to learn how to say “twelve fifty-five” in Spanish. Enjoy your language journey, and may your future conversations be filled with time-related Spanish phrases!
