2 Asking and telling the time

To ask and tell the time (la hora) in Spanish, use the following expressions.

• ¿Qué hora es? What time is it? / What’s the time?

• La una. / Es la una.  It’s one o’clock.

• Las dos. / Son las dos.  It’s two o’clock.

• Las tres. / Son las tres.  It’s three o’clock.

Notice that the article la / las is always used with times. It is feminine because it refers to the noun hora / horas.

Note that the answer is in the singular (Es la una) for one o’clock and in the plural for all other times (Son las dos / tres / cuatro…).

More precise time is given in the following way.