A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "In five minutes" in Spanish
Learn how to say 'in five minutes' in Spanish to manage time, set expectations, or tell someone when you will be ready.
En cinco minutos.
en SEEN-koh mee-NOO-tohsneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you are running slightly behind schedule or need to give a specific timeframe for a task. It is perfect for telling a friend you are almost ready or informing a colleague when you will join a meeting.
Alternatives
- Dentro de cinco minutosUse this if you want to emphasize that the time will pass before the action happens.
- En un ratitoUse this for a vague, casual 'in a little while' when you don't want to be precise.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't use 'dentro' for everything
While 'dentro' means inside, using 'en' is the natural, idiomatic way to express time duration.
Watch the 'i' sound
Ensure you pronounce the 'i' in 'minutos' like the 'ee' in 'see' rather than the English 'eye' sound.
A small cultural note
In many Latin American countries, saying 'en cinco minutos' can sometimes be an optimistic estimate, so don't be surprised if it takes a bit longer.
Frequently asked
How do I say in ten minutes instead?
Simply replace the number five with ten. You would say 'En diez minutos'.
Is it rude to say this to my boss?
It is perfectly polite and professional. It provides a clear, helpful update on your status.
Why do Spanish speakers use en for time?
In Spanish, the preposition 'en' is used to indicate the time frame in which an event will occur. It functions similarly to 'in' when referring to future time.
