Telling time in other languages
Learn how people say the time in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Japanese. Try the time translator, then pick a guide.
Time translator
Choose any time and see how to say it.
Side by side
The same five times in six languages. Notice that German 3:30 points to the next hour.
| Language | 1:00 | 2:15 | 3:30 | 4:45 | 6:50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | One o'clock | Quarter past two | Half past three | Quarter to five | Ten to seven |
| Spanish | Es la una en punto | Son las dos y cuarto | Son las tres y media | Son las cinco menos cuarto | Son las siete menos diez |
| French | Il est une heure | Il est deux heures et quart | Il est trois heures et demie | Il est cinq heures moins le quart | Il est sept heures moins dix |
| German | Es ist ein Uhr | Es ist Viertel nach zwei | Es ist halb vier | Es ist Viertel vor fünf | Es ist zehn vor sieben |
| Italian | È l'una in punto | Sono le due e un quarto | Sono le tre e mezza | Sono le cinque meno un quarto | Sono le sette meno dieci |
| Japanese | 一時 (Ichi-ji) | 二時十五分 (Ni-ji jūgo-fun) | 三時半 (San-ji han) | 四時四十五分 (Yon-ji yonjūgo-fun) | 六時五十分 (Roku-ji gojū-fun) |
Language guides
Rules, examples and practice for each language.
Spanish (Español)
“¿Qué hora es?”
Uses 'Es la una' for 1:00 (singular) and 'Son las...' for 2:00–12:00 (plural). Past minutes use 'y', remaining minutes use 'menos'.
2:15 = Son las dos y cuarto
French (Français)
“Quelle heure est-il ?”
Starts with 'Il est… heures'. Uses 'et quart' (quarter past), 'et demie' (half past) and 'moins le quart' (quarter to).
3:30 = Il est trois heures et demie
German (Deutsch)
“Wie spät ist es?”
The famous 'halb' rule: 'halb' points to the next hour. 'Halb vier' means half-way to four (3:30), not 4:30.
3:30 = Es ist halb vier
Italian (Italiano)
“Che ore sono?”
Like Spanish: 'È l'una' for 1:00 and 'Sono le…' for other hours. Uses 'e un quarto' and 'meno un quarto'.
4:45 = Sono le cinque meno un quarto
Japanese (日本語)
“今何時ですか (Ima nan-ji desu ka?)”
Uses counters: number + 時 (ji, hours) and number + 分 (fun/pun, minutes). Half past is 半 (han).
1:30 = 一時半 (Ichi-ji han)
For teachers and parents
- • Languages lessons (MFL, KS2): pupils choose a time on the translator and practice saying it aloud, then check the written form.
- • Maths link: compare the words for "quarter" and "half" in each language. They all rely on the same fractions.
- • Prior learning: children should already tell time in English. See our lessons.
- • Accuracy: phrases follow standard clock conventions. Spoken forms vary by region, so check with a native speaker for assessed work.
Questions
How do you ask the time in other languages?
Spanish: ¿Qué hora es? French: Quelle heure est-il ? German: Wie spät ist es? Italian: Che ore sono? Japanese: 今何時ですか (Ima nan-ji desu ka?).
What does 'halb' mean when telling time in German?
'Halb' means half-way to the next hour. So 'halb vier' is 3:30, not 4:30.
Which language is easiest for telling time?
Japanese is very regular because it just uses number + 時 for hours and number + 分 for minutes. Spanish, Italian and French share the same quarter-past and half-past ideas as English.