doce y cincuenta y cinco
/doθe i θinkwenta i θinko/from spelling rules
The English phrase twelve fifty-five is expressed in Spanish as doce y cincuenta y cinco.
This phrase is used to state the time when it is five minutes before one o'clock. In Spanish, the verb son (are) is used for any hour other than one o'clock.
Which one should you use?
While doce y cincuenta y cinco is a literal way to state the time, Spanish speakers often use a countdown method such as un minuto para la una (one minute to one) as the time approaches the hour.
How does it change in a sentence?
In natural speech, the definite article las is almost always used before the hour when stating the time, such as in las doce y cincuenta y cinco.
How do you pronounce it?
/doθe i θinkwenta i θinko/
Did you know?
- While it sounds like a simple number, the word cinco shares a common linguistic ancestor with the word ponche, the drink known in English as 'punch'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the concept of time is expressed as a deficit, using the verb faltar to say that minutes are 'missing' before the hour.
Examples in context
- El tren sale a las doce y cincuenta y cinco.The train leaves at twelve fifty-five.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are checking the time in a living room.
- Alejandro¿Qué hora es ahora, Elena?What time is it now, Elena?
- ElenaSon las doce y cincuenta y cinco.It is twelve fifty-five.
- Alejandro¡Es muy tarde!It is very late!
- ElenaSí, Alejandro, vamos a dormir.Yes, Alejandro, let's go to sleep.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cinco, cincuenta, doce, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
