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Talking about time is one of the first things you’ll need when speaking Spanish. Whether you’re setting up a coffee meet-up, explaining your routine, or just asking what time a store closes, knowing how to say the times of the day—and how to tell time—makes a big difference.
Let’s go over these basic Spanish words for different times of the day and how to say the time in Spanish. This is an essential part of learning Spanish for beginners and will help you feel more confident in daily conversations.
As a Spanish learner myself, I’ve learned the hard way that aiming for fluency right away isn’t the best goal when learning a new language. So, if you’re just starting out with Spanish, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It will guide you on what to focus on at each stage of your learning journey. Check out this article to get a clearer idea of what you should learn as a beginner and what’s expected of you along the way.
Basic Spanish Words: Times of the Day
Here are the words for different parts of the day:
- La mañana – The morning
- La tarde – The afternoon/evening (before nightfall)
- La noche – The night
- El mediodía – Noon (literally “midday”)
- La medianoche – Midnight
Now, let’s break it down and add some context.
Morning: La Mañana
In Spanish, la mañana refers to the morning, usually from sunrise until around noon.
- Desayuno en la mañana. – I eat breakfast in the morning.
- Trabajo por la mañana. – I work in the morning.
If you want to be specific about a time, you can say:
- Me levanto a las siete de la mañana. – I wake up at seven in the morning.
Noon: El Mediodía
Noon, or el mediodía, is exactly 12:00 PM. Unlike English, where we sometimes say “twelve in the afternoon,” Spanish has a specific word for it.
- Voy a almorzar al mediodía. – I’m going to have lunch at noon.
- Nos vemos al mediodía. – We’ll see each other at noon.
Afternoon and Evening: La Tarde
In Spanish, la tarde starts after el mediodía and lasts until it gets dark. This is different from English, where we separate afternoon and evening. In Spanish, they’re both la tarde until nighttime.
- Estudio por la tarde. – I study in the afternoon.
- Vamos al cine en la tarde. – We’re going to the movies in the evening.
- Trabajo hasta las seis de la tarde. – I work until six in the evening.
Night: La Noche
Once the sun has set, it’s la noche. Unlike la tarde, which is a bit flexible, la noche clearly means nighttime.
- Ceno a las ocho de la noche. – I have dinner at eight at night.
- Salimos de fiesta por la noche. – We go out partying at night.
- Me acuesto a las diez de la noche. – I go to bed at ten at night.
Midnight: La Medianoche
If it’s really late, we use la medianoche, which is exactly 12:00 AM.
- Nos fuimos a casa a la medianoche. – We went home at midnight.
- La película terminó a la medianoche. – The movie ended at midnight.
How to Say the Time in Spanish
To say the time in Spanish, follow this format:
- Es la una. – It’s one o’clock. (Only for 1:00)
- Son las dos. – It’s two o’clock.
- Son las tres. – It’s three o’clock.
- Son las cuatro. – It’s four o’clock.
- Son las cinco. – It’s five o’clock.
- Son las seis. – It’s six o’clock.
- Son las siete. – It’s seven o’clock.
- Son las ocho. – It’s eight o’clock.
- Son las nueve. – It’s nine o’clock.
- Son las diez. – It’s ten o’clock.
- Son las once. – It’s eleven o’clock.
- Son las doce. – It’s twelve o’clock.
For more specific times:
- Son las cinco y media. – It’s five-thirty.
- Son las siete y cuarto. – It’s seven-fifteen.
- Son las diez menos diez. – It’s ten minutes to ten (9:50).
When talking about specific times of the day, use de:
- La reunión es a las tres de la tarde. – The meeting is at three in the afternoon.
- La película empieza a las ocho de la noche. – The movie starts at eight at night.
If speaking generally, use por:
- Trabajo por la mañana. – I work in the morning.
- Salimos por la noche. – We go out at night.
Practice Using These Words
Try thinking about your own daily routine. How would you say these in Spanish?
- ¿A qué hora te despiertas? – What time do you wake up?
- ¿Cuándo almuerzas? – When do you eat lunch?
- ¿A qué hora sueles dormir? – What time do you usually sleep?
If you can answer those in Spanish, you’re on the right track!
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Conclusion: Times of the Day
Knowing the times of the day and how to tell time in Spanish is a key skill for daily conversations. Whether you’re planning your day or asking for the time, these basic Spanish words will help you communicate with confidence.
Keep practicing, and soon, talking about time in Spanish will feel second nature!