doce y cuarenta y cinco
/doθe i kwaɾenta i θinko/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "twelve forty-five" is expressed as doce y cuarenta y cinco.
This phrase is used to state the time when it is forty-five minutes past twelve o'clock. To specify the time of day, you can add de la mañana to mean "in the morning" or de la tarde to mean "in the afternoon".
How does it change in a sentence?
When using this phrase in a full sentence to state the time, you typically precede it with the definite article las (e.g., las doce y cuarenta y cinco) because the implied noun for hours, hora, is feminine and plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/doθe i kwaɾenta i θinko/
Did you know?
- While doce y cuarenta y cinco is common, speakers often say una menos cuarto, which literally means 'one minus a quarter'.
- The word cinco is a doublet of the English words 'ponche' and 'ponzu' via their shared linguistic ancestry.
- In a formal setting, such as a train station or airport, you will hear doce cuarenta y cinco without the y, treating the time like a digital readout.
Examples in context
- Tengo una cita a las doce cuarenta y cinco.I have an appointment at twelve forty-five.
- Encontrémonos a las doce y cuarenta y cinco de la tarde.Let's meet at twelve forty-five in the afternoon.
- El tren parte a las doce cuarenta y cinco.The train departs at twelve forty-five.
- La cita es a las doce y cuarenta y cinco.The appointment is at twelve forty-five.
- Recuerda que son las doce y cuarenta y cinco.Remember that it is twelve forty-five.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are checking the time before a meeting.
- Lucía¿Qué hora es, Mateo?What time is it, Mateo?
- MateoSon las doce y cuarenta y cinco.It is twelve forty-five.
- Lucía¡Qué tarde! Tenemos que irnos.How late! We have to go.
- MateoSí, vamos rápido.Yes, let's go quickly.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cinco, cuarenta, doce, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
