A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "It's half past four" in Spanish
Learn to say 'it's half past four' in Spanish with this common phrase and usage tips.
Son las cuatro y media.
sohn lahs KWAH-troh ee MEH-dee-ahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when telling someone the time in the afternoon. It's perfect for arranging meetings or simply stating the current hour.
Alternatives
- Es la una y media.Use this if it's half past one.
- Son las tres y media.Use this if it's half past three.
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'es' instead of 'son'
For any hour other than one o'clock, use 'son' (they are) to agree with the plural hours.
Confusing 'media' with 'medio'
'Media' is feminine to agree with 'hora' (hour), which is implied.
A small cultural note
In many Spanish-speaking countries, the 24-hour clock is common, especially in formal settings or for public transport. However, the 12-hour clock with phrases like this is still widely understood and used in daily conversation.
Frequently asked
how to say 4:30 pm in spanish
You say 'Son las cuatro y media.' The context of the conversation usually makes it clear if it's AM or PM.
spanish time telling rules
Use 'Es la una' for one o'clock and 'Son las [hour]' for all other hours. Add 'y media' for half past.
what does y media mean in spanish time
'Y media' literally means 'and a half'. It's used to indicate that the time is half past the hour.
