How to Say "Two Forty" in Spanish

dos y cuarenta

/dos i kwaɾenta/from spelling rules

The English phrase "two forty" can be expressed in Spanish as dos y cuarenta.

dos y cuarenta is a way to state the time as two hours and forty minutes. This form is most commonly used in digital contexts or when reading a digital clock.

Which one should you use?

While dos y cuarenta is a literal way to say two forty, it is also common to express this time by subtracting the minutes from the next hour, such as saying las tres menos veinte (twenty to three).

Is it said differently in some regions?

In some parts of Latin America, you may hear veinte para las tres to indicate the time twenty minutes before three.

How does it change in a sentence?

When stating the time in Spanish, the number of hours is preceded by the definite article las if the hour is plural, as seen in las dos y cuarenta.

How do you pronounce it?

/dos i kwaɾenta/

Did you know?

The Spanish word for forty, cuarenta, is built from the Latin 'quadrāgintā', which literally means 'four-ten'.
Even though 'two' is a small number, you must use the plural feminine article las before the time, because you are referring to 'las horas' (the hours).

Examples in context

La reunión comenzará a las dos y cuarenta.
The meeting will start at two forty.
El avión despegará a las dos cuarenta de la tarde.
The plane will take off at two forty in the afternoon.
Hoy salgo del trabajo a las dos cuarenta para encontrarnos.
Today, I finish work at two forty to meet up.
Llegaré a tu casa a las dos cuarenta aproximadamente.
I'll arrive at your house around two forty.
El tren sale a las dos y cuarenta.
The train leaves at two forty.
Son las dos y cuarenta de la tarde.
It is two forty in the afternoon.
La clase termina a las dos y cuarenta.
The class ends at two forty.

Example conversation

María and Alejandro are checking the bus schedule at a station.

María

¿A qué hora llega el autobús, Alejandro?
What time does the bus arrive, Alejandro?
Alejandro

Llega a las dos y cuarenta.
It arrives at two forty.
María

¡Perfecto! Todavía tenemos tiempo.
Perfect! We still have time.
Alejandro

Sí, María, podemos esperar tranquilamente.
Yes, María, we can wait calmly.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuarenta, dos, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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How to Say “Two Forty” in Spanish