A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "What time is it" in Spanish
Ask for the current time in Spanish with this essential phrase. Perfect for travel and daily interactions.
¿Qué hora es?
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Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to know the current time, like when you're meeting someone or checking if you're running late. It's a direct and common way to ask.
Alternatives
- ¿Qué horas son?Less common, but sometimes heard.
- ¿Me puedes decir la hora?A slightly more polite and indirect way to ask.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'hora' with 'horrible'
'Hora' means 'hour' or 'time'; 'horrible' means 'terrible'.
Forgetting the question marks
Spanish questions start with an inverted question mark (¿) and end with a regular one (?).
A small cultural note
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people are generally more relaxed about punctuality than in some English-speaking cultures, but asking the time is still a common and useful interaction.
Frequently asked
how to answer what time is it in spanish
You answer with 'Son las [number] y [minutes]' for times other than 1:00. For 1:00, you say 'Es la una'.
what is the difference between que hora es and que horas son
'¿Qué hora es?' is the standard and most common way to ask. While '¿Qué horas son?' is sometimes heard, it's considered less grammatically standard by many speakers.
how to ask what time is it politely in spanish
You can add 'por favor' at the end for politeness, or use a more indirect phrase like '¿Me podría decir la hora?'
How do you say "what is the time" in Spanish?
The most common way to ask "what time is it?" in Spanish is "¿Qué hora es?". You can also use "¿Qué horas son?".
What does "qué es la fecha" mean?
"¿Qué es la fecha?" translates to "What is the date?" in English. It is used to inquire about the current date, not the time.
What does "qué va hacer hoy" mean?
"¿Qué va a hacer hoy?" means "What are you going to do today?" in English. This question is about plans for the day, not the current time.
