doce y media
/doθe i medja/from spelling rules
The English phrase twelve fifty can be translated into Spanish as doce y media.
The phrase doce y media is used to indicate that the time is twelve thirty. You can also use cinco para la una to express the time.
Did you know?
- The word media has a completely different meaning as a noun in Spanish, referring to 'socks' or 'stockings'.
- The word doce comes from the Latin duodecim, which literally means 'two and ten'.
- The word media is the feminine form of the adjective for 'half'. It must be feminine because it refers to the hidden word hora, meaning 'hour'.
Examples in context
- Son las doce y cincuenta, así que debemos apresurarnos.It is twelve fifty, so we should hurry.
- Quedamos a las doce cincuenta en el café, ¿está bien?Let's meet at twelve fifty at the café, is that okay?
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are deciding when to have lunch.
- Elena¿A qué hora quieres comer, Alejandro?What time do you want to eat, Alejandro?
- AlejandroPodemos comer a las doce y media.We can eat at twelve thirty.
- ElenaPerfecto, me parece bien.Perfect, that sounds good to me.
- AlejandroEntonces quedamos así, Elena.Then it's a deal, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries doce, media, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
