dos y diez
/dos i djeθ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "two ten" can be expressed in Spanish as dos y diez.
This phrase is used to state that the time is ten minutes past two.
How does it change in a sentence?
When stating the time in the plural, use the verb phrase son las before the numbers, as in son las dos y diez.
How do you pronounce it?
/dos i djeθ/
Did you know?
- The word diez shares a common ancestor with the English word 'decimate', which stems from the Latin 'decem' meaning 'ten'.
- Depending on the region, diez may be pronounced with a 'th' sound in Spain or a 's' sound in Latin America. This is one of the most distinct auditory markers of a speaker's origin.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, people use the 24-hour clock for official schedules, so you might hear las catorce y diez for 2:10 PM.
Examples in context
- Ya son las dos y diez.It is already two ten.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are checking the time before a meeting.
- Sofía¿Qué hora es, Javier?What time is it, Javier?
- JavierSon las dos y diez.It is two ten.
- Sofía¡Oh no, ya es tarde!Oh no, it's already late!
- JavierNo te preocupes, Sofía.Don't worry, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diez, dos, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
