A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "It's a quarter to six" in Spanish
Learn how to say 'it's a quarter to six' in Spanish with this simple guide to telling time in Latin America.
Son las seis menos cuarto.
sohn lahs SAY-es MEH-nohs KWAHR-tohneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when checking your watch or telling a friend when you need to leave. It is the standard way to express time remaining before the hour in most Spanish-speaking countries.
Alternatives
- Faltan quince para las seis.Common in many regions to emphasize the minutes remaining.
- Son las cinco y cuarenta y cinco.Used when you want to be precise and avoid fractions.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't use 'es'
Always use 'son' for hours plural, which includes everything except one o'clock.
Avoid literal translation
English speakers often try to say 'un cuarto a las seis', but 'menos cuarto' is the natural way to subtract time.
A small cultural note
In many Latin American countries, people use the 12-hour clock in daily conversation rather than the 24-hour clock used in official schedules.
Frequently asked
how do i tell time in spanish
You use 'es la' for one o'clock and 'son las' for all other hours. To subtract minutes, use 'menos' followed by the fraction or number.
why do spanish speakers use minus for time
It is simply the standard way to count backwards from the next hour. It functions exactly like saying 'quarter to' in English.
is it okay to say the minutes instead of quarter
Yes, saying 'quince' is perfectly acceptable and understood everywhere. Using 'cuarto' just sounds a bit more natural and native.
