Son las 3 en punto — Decir la hora
para horas exactas y añadeam/pm".
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'o'clock' only for exact hours with no minutes. Start your sentence with 'It's' to sound natural.
- Use 'o'clock' only for whole hours like 1:00 or 5:00. Example: 'It's 4 o'clock.'
- Never use 'o'clock' if there are minutes. Example: Say 'It's 4:30', not 'It's 4:30 o'clock.'
- Use 'It is' or 'It's' as the subject and verb. Example: 'It's 9 o'clock.'
Overview
nos vemos a las quince horaspara referirse a las 3:00 pm en contextos oficiales o de transporte, los hablantes nativos de inglés rara vez utilizan el sistema de 24 horas al hablar. Prefieren dividir el día en dos bloques de doce horas, utilizando las abreviaturas
am y pm para evitar confusiones.it is) y cómo la estructura o'clock nos ayuda a marcar la precisión. Si alguna vez te has sentido confundido por no saber si decir las tres o la tres, este artículo despejará todas tus dudas desde nuestra perspectiva latina, cálida y directa.Es la una, pero Son las dos. En inglés, esto es mucho más sencillo: siempre usamos el singular.It is (o su contracción It's). Para un angloparlante, el tiempo es un concepto abstracto y singular, por lo que siempre diremos It is three o'clock, sin importar si es la una o las doce.and) |am y pm. Como mencionamos, el inglés oral prefiere el ciclo de 12 horas.am(ante meridiem): Desde las12:00 am(medianoche) hasta las11:59 am. Es lo que nosotros llamamosde la mañana
.pm(post meridiem): Desde las12:00 pm(mediodía) hasta las11:59 pm. Cubre lo que nosotros dividimos ende la tardeyde la noche.
las siete de la noche, un angloparlante simplemente dirá
seven pm. No necesitan especificar si es tarde o noche con palabras distintas si ya están usando el marcador pm.o'clock es una contracción histórica de *of the clock*. Se usa exclusivamente para las horas exactas, es decir, cuando el minutero marca las doce. Es el equivalente a nuestro en punto.o'clockIt is + [Número] + o'clock.It's one o'clock(Es la una en punto).It's eight o'clock(Son las ocho en punto).It's twelve o'clock(Son las doce en punto).
o'clock si hay minutos. Decir It's three ten o'clock es un error común que debemos evitar.2:20->two twenty.5:45->five forty-five.9:15->nine fifteen.
zero. En su lugar, pronuncian el número cero como la letra oh.4:05->four oh five(en lugar defour zero five).8:01->eight oh one.
twelve pm o twelve am, lo más natural es usar palabras específicas que eliminan cualquier duda:12:00 pm->noon(mediodía).12:00 am->midnight(medianoche).
¿A qué hora es el almuerzo?->
At noon.ata las ocho. En inglés, ese
a las se traduce simplemente como at. No usamos el artículo the para las horas.I have a meeting at nine am(Tengo una reunión a las nueve de la mañana).The party starts at ten pm(La fiesta empieza a las diez de la noche).
past: Para minutos del 1 al 30.Ten past four(Diez pasadas las cuatro / Cuatro y diez).to: Para minutos del 31 al 59.Ten to five(Diez para las cinco / Cinco menos diez).half past: Para la media hora.Half past six(Seis y media).a quarter: Para el cuarto de hora.A quarter past(y cuarto) oa quarter to(menos cuarto).
- Organizar reuniones y citas: Si estás trabajando de forma remota o coordinando una videollamada, ser específico con el
am/pmes vital. Imagínate la confusión si programas una cita a las8:00pensando en la noche y tu cliente se conecta en la mañana.
Let's meet at two thirty pm.- Rutinas diarias: Para describir tu día a día en una conversación casual.
I wake up at six o'clock, and I go to work at seven thirty.- Uso de transporte y servicios: Al viajar, los horarios de trenes, autobuses o el cierre de un museo requieren que entiendas la hora digital rápidamente.
The last bus is at eleven fifteen pm.- Interacciones sociales rápidas: La típica pregunta en la calle o en la oficina:
¿Tienes la hora?.
Excuse me, what time is it?It's ten oh five.- Consumo de entretenimiento: Saber cuándo empieza un partido de fútbol o el estreno de una película.
The game is at eight pm.They are...)Son las cinco. Por inercia, muchos alumnos dicen They are five.- Incorrecto:
They are four o'clock. - Correcto:
It is four o'clock. - Por qué sucede: En español, el verbo concuerda con las horas (plural). En inglés, el tiempo es un sujeto impersonal y siempre usa
It(singular).
At the...)a las tres. El error es traducir ese
las.- Incorrecto:
See you at the three. - Correcto:
See you at three. - Por qué sucede: En inglés, las horas no llevan artículo definido (
the). Solo necesitas la preposiciónat.
and para los minutoscinco y diez. Muchos intentan decir
five and ten.- Incorrecto:
It's five and ten. - Correcto:
It's five ten. - Por qué sucede: En el método digital inglés, no se usa ninguna conjunción entre la hora y los minutos. Se dicen los números seguidos.
o'clock con minutos- Incorrecto:
It's six thirty o'clock. - Correcto:
It's six thirtyoIt's six o'clock. - Por qué sucede: Queremos enfatizar que es la hora, pero
o'clockes exclusivo para cuando el minuto es:00.
4:15 | four fifteen | a quarter past four | Cuatro y cuarto |4:30 | four thirty | half past four | Cuatro y media |4:45 | four forty-five | a quarter to five | Cuarto para las cinco |4:50 | four fifty | ten to five | Diez para las cinco |military time y se usa casi exclusivamente en contextos militares, náuticos o técnicos muy específicos. Si dices fifteen hours en una cafetería, te entenderán, pero sonará muy extraño. Usa siempre 3:00 pm.am o pm siempre?It's eight o'clock, se sobreentiende que es la mañana. Pero si estás haciendo planes para el futuro, es mejor incluirlos para evitar confusiones.at e in para el tiempo?at (at 5:00). Usamos in para periodos del día: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.I'll see you at eight in the morning.am o pm?12:00 pm es el mediodía (cuando sale el sol fuerte) y 12:00 am es la medianoche (cuando empieza el nuevo día). Si te confunde, simplemente di noon o midnight y nunca fallarás.Telling the Time with 'To Be'
| Subject | Verb | Number | Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
It
|
is
|
1
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
2
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
3
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
4
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
5
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
6
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
7
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
8
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
9
|
o'clock
|
|
It
|
is
|
10
|
o'clock
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
It is 1 o'clock
|
It's 1 o'clock
|
Common in speech
|
|
It is not 1 o'clock
|
It isn't 1 o'clock
|
Common in speech
|
|
It is not 1 o'clock
|
It's not 1 o'clock
|
Alternative contraction
|
Meanings
The phrase 'o'clock' is used to indicate that the time is exactly at the start of a specific hour, with zero minutes passed.
Exact Hourly Time
Used to state the current time when the minute hand is exactly on the twelve.
“It's 6 o'clock.”
“Is it 3 o'clock?”
Scheduled Events
Used to describe when a specific event starts or ends if it happens on the hour.
“The class is at 9 o'clock.”
“The store opens at 8 o'clock.”
Emphasis on Precision
Used with 'sharp' or 'exactly' to emphasize that an event must happen at that specific moment.
“Be there at 5 o'clock sharp!”
“It is exactly 12 o'clock.”
Reference Table
| Hora | Cómo decirlo | Significado | Ejemplo de uso |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1:00
|
One o'clock
|
La una en punto
|
The meeting is at `one o'clock`.
|
|
5:00 am
|
Five am
|
Cinco de la mañana
|
I wake up at `five am`.
|
|
5:00 pm
|
Five pm
|
Cinco de la tarde
|
Dinner is at `five pm`.
|
|
2:15
|
Two fifteen
|
Dos y quince
|
My class starts at `two fifteen`.
|
|
7:30
|
Seven thirty
|
Siete y treinta
|
Let's meet at `seven thirty`.
|
|
10:05
|
Ten oh five
|
Diez y cinco
|
The bus arrives at `ten oh five`.
|
|
12:00 am
|
Midnight
|
Medianoche
|
The store closes at `midnight`.
|
|
12:00 pm
|
Noon
|
Mediodía
|
Lunch is at `noon`.
|
Espectro de formalidad
The meeting shall commence at five o'clock. (Meeting someone)
It's 5 o'clock. (Meeting someone)
See ya at 5. (Meeting someone)
Catch you at 5 bells. (Meeting someone)
Decir la hora en inglés
Horas exactas
- 3:00 Three o'clock
- 7:00 Seven o'clock
Con minutos
- 4:15 Four fifteen
- 6:30 Six thirty
AM / PM
- Mañana AM (e.g., 8 AM)
- Tarde/Noche PM (e.g., 8 PM)
Horas especiales
- 12:00 AM Midnight
- 12:00 PM Noon
Reloj de 12 horas vs. 24 horas
Cómo decir la hora paso a paso
¿Es una hora exacta (ej. 1:00, 5:00)?
¿Necesitas especificar si es mañana o tarde?
Expresiones de tiempo
Horas exactas
- • One o'clock
- • Six o'clock
- • Ten o'clock
Con minutos
- • Two fifteen
- • Four thirty
- • Seven oh five
Mañana/Noche
- • Seven am
- • Nine pm
- • Eleven am
Términos especiales
- • Noon
- • Midnight
Ejemplos por nivel
It is 1 o'clock.
It is 1:00.
It's 2 o'clock.
It is 2:00.
It is 12 o'clock.
It is 12:00.
Is it 5 o'clock?
Is it 5:00?
It isn't 4 o'clock yet.
It is not 4:00 yet.
The bus comes at 8 o'clock.
The bus arrives at 8:00.
Is it exactly 9 o'clock?
Is it exactly 9:00?
We have tea at 4 o'clock.
We drink tea at 4:00.
The movie starts at 7 o'clock sharp.
The movie starts exactly at 7:00.
I thought it was 6 o'clock already.
I believed it was 6:00.
Can we meet at 10 o'clock tomorrow?
Is 10:00 tomorrow okay?
It was nearly 11 o'clock when he left.
It was almost 11:00.
The deadline is 5 o'clock this afternoon.
The deadline is 5:00 PM.
By 12 o'clock, the sun was high in the sky.
At noon, the sun was high.
I'll be there by 8 o'clock, provided the train is on time.
I will arrive by 8:00.
Is the appointment at 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock?
Which hour is the appointment?
The clock struck 12 o'clock, signaling the end of the year.
It became midnight.
He insisted on meeting at 6 o'clock, despite the early hour.
He wanted to meet at 6:00.
Should the meeting conclude by 4 o'clock, we can catch the early train.
If we finish by 4:00...
The bells chime every hour, most loudly at 12 o'clock.
The bells ring at noon/midnight.
The shift from the sundial to the mechanical 'o'clock' revolutionized labor.
The change in time-telling changed work.
At the stroke of 9 o'clock, the stock market opened with a frenzy.
Exactly at 9:00, trading began.
One might argue that 'o'clock' is becoming a vestigial phrase in the digital age.
People might say the phrase is dying out.
The curfew was strictly enforced from 10 o'clock onwards.
The curfew started at 10:00.
Fácil de confundir
Learners say 'It's 3 hours' instead of 'It's 3 o'clock'.
Learners use both at the same time.
Using '12 o'clock' can be confusing—is it day or night?
Errores comunes
It's 3:30 o'clock.
It's 3:30.
It's 3 oclock.
It's 3 o'clock.
Is 3 o'clock.
It's 3 o'clock.
It's 13 o'clock.
It's 1 o'clock.
At 5 o'clock AM.
At 5 AM / At 5 o'clock.
It's 5 of clock.
It's 5 o'clock.
The meeting is 5 o'clock.
The meeting is at 5 o'clock.
It's 12 o'clock in the night.
It's midnight / It's 12 o'clock.
I'll arrive at 14 o'clock.
I'll arrive at 2 o'clock.
The clock struck 5:00 o'clock.
The clock struck 5.
Patrones de oraciones
It's ___ o'clock.
Is it ___ o'clock yet?
The ___ is at ___ o'clock.
I'll be there at ___ o'clock sharp.
Real World Usage
Meet at 6 o'clock?
I can be here at 9 o'clock tomorrow.
The next train is at 11 o'clock.
Math class is at 1 o'clock.
Your appointment is at 4 o'clock sharp.
Live stream starts at 8 o'clock!
Practica con tu rutina diaria
I wake up at seven am.
Evita el 'o'clock' con los minutos
Usa 'oh' para los minutos bajos
It is two oh five.
El formato de 12 horas es el rey
The meeting is at three pm.
El contexto es tu mejor amigo
Smart Tips
Write the number as a word instead of a digit.
Just say the number and skip 'o'clock' entirely.
Add the word 'exactly' before the number.
Look at the minute hand. If it's not at the very top, don't use it.
Pronunciación
The 'o' sound
The 'o' in o'clock is a very short 'schwa' sound /ə/.
Linking
The 's' in 'It's' links to the number. 'It's-eight o'clock'.
Falling intonation
It's four o'clock. ↘
A standard statement of fact.
Rising intonation
Is it four o'clock? ↗
Asking a question.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
O'clock is for the 'O' on the clock—the zero minutes!
Asociación visual
Imagine a big wall clock where the minute hand is a giant 'O' pointing straight up at the 12. This 'O' stands for O'clock.
Rhyme
When the hand is at the top, 'o'clock' is where you stop.
Story
A king named Hour only liked whole numbers. He would only eat at 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, and 3 o'clock. If a servant brought food at 1:05, the king said, 'That is not an o'clock time!'
Word Web
Desafío
Look at a clock every hour today. When the minute hand hits 12, say the time out loud: 'It's [Number] o'clock!'
Notas culturales
In the UK, people often say 'five o'clock' for tea time, which is a traditional light meal.
Americans use 'o'clock' frequently but will often just say the number (e.g., 'It's five') in casual conversation.
In international business, people often use the 24-hour clock to avoid confusion between time zones, so 'o'clock' is used less often than '14:00'.
The phrase is a contraction of the Middle English 'of the clokke'.
Inicios de conversación
What time do you wake up?
What time does your favorite show start?
When is our meeting tomorrow?
If the party starts at 8 o'clock, what time will you arrive?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
The class starts at nine _____.
o'clock para referirnos a horas exactas.Find and fix the mistake:
The party begins at seven o'clock pm.
o'clock con am o pm. Elige una de las dos opciones.Choose the correct sentence:
am o pm.Translate into English: 'Son las cuatro y diez de la tarde.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
pm para la tarde.Score: /4
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesChoose the correct time phrase:
It is 7 ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
It is 5:15 o'clock.
o'clock / is / it / 9
1:00
Pick the correct question:
It ___ 10 o'clock.
Choose the formal way to say 8:00:
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesWe usually have lunch at one _____.
The movie starts at seven o'clock fifteen.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El banco abre a las nueve de la mañana.'
Ordena las palabras:
Une la hora digital con su forma hablada:
The show starts at eight forty-five _____.
I have to leave at fifteen hundred.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Tengo que estar en casa a medianoche.'
Ordena las palabras:
Une cada término con su significado:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
No, you should not. We don't say `15 o'clock`. Use numbers 1-12 only.
It is always `o'clock` with an apostrophe. The apostrophe shows that letters (f, t, h, e) are missing from 'of the'.
No. In casual conversation, you can just say `It's five`. `O'clock` is used for clarity or emphasis.
You can say `12 o'clock`, but it's better to say `noon` (day) or `midnight` (night).
It's grammatically okay, but native speakers find it redundant. Just say `5 AM` or `5 o'clock`.
It is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with your family.
It's an old way of saying 'of the'. So '7 o'clock' means '7 of the clock'.
Never. `O'clock` is strictly for zero minutes.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
en punto
Spanish uses a plural verb ('son') for hours, English uses singular ('it is').
pile / heures
French requires the word for 'hours' every time.
Uhr
German uses 'Uhr' even when minutes are included (e.g., 'drei Uhr fünf').
時 (ji)
Japanese uses a suffix (counter) rather than a separate phrase.
تماماً (tamaman)
Arabic uses an adjective for 'exactly' rather than a clock-specific phrase.
点 (diǎn)
Chinese uses 'point' as the measure word for hours.
