Telling time

Foreign Languages

Definition

Telling time involves learning how to express hours and minutes in a foreign language. Most languages use specific structures: French uses 'Il est... heures,' Spanish uses 'Son las...' (or 'Es la...' for 1:00), and German uses 'Es ist... Uhr.'

Examples

  • Il est trois heures et quart. (It is 3:15.)
  • Son las dos y media. (It is 2:30.)
  • Es ist halb vier. (It is 3:30 — literally 'half four' in German)
Key Fact

German telling time is tricky: 'halb vier' = 3:30 (half TO four, not half PAST four). French/Spanish use 12-hour with 'et quart/y cuarto' for :15 and 'et demie/y media' for :30.

Related Terms

Numbers 1-100 Daily schedule Days and months Time expressions

Study This Concept

Practice telling time with free review games in these units:

French 1-2 Unit 4: Daily Life German 1 Unit 5: School and Daily Routine Mandarin Chinese 1 Unit 4: Time and Dates Spanish 1-2 Unit 4: Daily Routines