المعنى
Asking for the time politely.
خلفية ثقافية
In Spain, it is very common to simply ask '¿Tienes hora?'. It's direct but not considered rude among peers. Also, Spaniards often use the 24-hour clock for schedules but the 12-hour clock in speech. The use of 'regalar' (to give a gift) is a hallmark of Colombian politeness. It doesn't mean a literal gift; it's just a softer way to ask for something. Mexicans often use '¿Qué hora tiene(s)?'. Adding 'disculpe' or 'perdón' before the question is almost mandatory to maintain social harmony. Due to 'voseo', you will hear '¿Me podés decir la hora?'. The stress is on the last syllable of 'podés', which is a distinct feature of Rioplatense Spanish.
Add 'por favor'
Always add 'por favor' at the end to sound more natural and polite, especially with strangers.
The Silent H
Never pronounce the 'h' in 'hora'. It should sound like 'ora'.
المعنى
Asking for the time politely.
Add 'por favor'
Always add 'por favor' at the end to sound more natural and polite, especially with strangers.
The Silent H
Never pronounce the 'h' in 'hora'. It should sound like 'ora'.
The 'Usted' Switch
If you are in doubt, use '¿Me puede decir la hora?'. It's never wrong to be too polite.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the phrase with the correct pronoun and verb form.
¿____ puedes ______ la hora?
We use 'me' (to me) and the infinitive 'decir' after the conjugated verb 'puedes'.
Which of these is the most polite way to ask an elderly stranger for the time?
Select the best option:
Using 'puede' (usted) and adding 'por favor' is the most respectful choice for a stranger.
Fill in the missing line in this dialogue.
A: Hola, disculpa. ¿Me puedes decir la hora? B: ________________
The most natural response to a request for the time is to provide the time.
Match the phrase to the region.
Where would you most likely hear '¿Me regala la hora?'
'Regalar la hora' is a very common polite expression in Colombia.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارين¿____ puedes ______ la hora?
We use 'me' (to me) and the infinitive 'decir' after the conjugated verb 'puedes'.
Select the best option:
Using 'puede' (usted) and adding 'por favor' is the most respectful choice for a stranger.
A: Hola, disculpa. ¿Me puedes decir la hora? B: ________________
The most natural response to a request for the time is to provide the time.
Where would you most likely hear '¿Me regala la hora?'
'Regalar la hora' is a very common polite expression in Colombia.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, '¿Me dices la hora?' is a slightly more direct but very common informal way to ask. It removes the 'can you' part.
Nouns ending in '-a' are usually feminine in Spanish. 'Hora' is a feminine noun, so it requires the feminine article 'la'.
Not at all! In Spain, it's the most common way to ask among people of similar age. In Latin America, it might sound a bit too informal for a stranger.
You usually start with 'Son las...' (It is...) followed by the number. Example: 'Son las cinco'. For 1:00, say 'Es la una'.
You can say: 'Lo siento, no tengo reloj' or 'No traigo mi teléfono'.
Yes, but usually you'd just ask '¿Qué hora es?' or '¿A qué hora nos vemos?' since the person reading the text might not see it immediately.
Both '¿Me puedes decir la hora?' and '¿Me puedes dar la hora?' are used. 'Decir' is slightly more common for the verbal act of telling.
This is a regionalism from Colombia. It's an extremely polite way to ask for something without implying a cost or a gift.
Use the conditional: '¿Podría decirme la hora, por favor?' or '¿Sería tan amable de decirme la hora?'.
It's a common Mexican informal variation, literally 'What time are you carrying/bringing?'.
عبارات ذات صلة
¿Qué hora es?
similarWhat time is it?
¿Tienes hora?
synonymDo you have the time?
¿A qué hora...?
builds onAt what time...?
Dar la hora
relatedTo strike the hour (clocks) or to be annoying (slang).
