How to Say Time in Spanish
How to say time in Spanish: 'tiempo' (tee-EM-po) for time in general, 'hora' (OH-rah) for the clock time, and 'vez' (behs) for an occasion. Which to use, with examples.
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Quick answer
Spanish has three words for 'time': 'tiempo' (tee-EM-po) for time in general or duration, 'hora' (OH-rah) for clock time (¿Qué hora es? = What time is it?), and 'vez' (behs) for an instance or occasion (otra vez = another time/again). Pick the one that matches the meaning.
tiempo
/tee-EM-po/ — Spanish
How to Say Time in Spanish
Here’s the twist English speakers don’t expect: Spanish uses three different words for “time,” depending on what you mean. Choose well and you’ll always sound natural. The general word is tiempo, pronounced tee-EM-po.
The Three Words for Time
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning of “time” | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tiempo | tee-EM-po | time in general / duration | No tengo tiempo (I don’t have time) |
| hora | OH-rah | clock time / scheduled hour | ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?) |
| vez | behs | an instance / occasion | otra vez (another time / again) |
Getting these right is the single biggest “time” skill in Spanish.
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish for “time” (in general) is tiempo (tee-EM-po).
1. Tiempo — Time in General
Use tiempo for time as a concept, an amount, or a duration:
- No tengo tiempo. — I don’t have time.
- Hace mucho tiempo. — A long time ago.
- ¿Cuánto tiempo? — How long? (how much time?)
- A tiempo. — On time.
Bonus fact: tiempo also means “weather” — ¿Qué tiempo hace? = “What’s the weather like?“
2. Hora — Clock Time
When you mean the time on the clock or a specific hour, use hora:
- ¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?
- Es la una. — It’s one o’clock.
- Son las tres. — It’s three o’clock.
- ¿A qué hora? — At what time?
Note that hora also means “hour” (una hora = one hour).
3. Vez — An Occasion or Instance
Use vez for a countable time/occasion — “once,” “twice,” “this time”:
- una vez — once (one time)
- dos veces — twice
- otra vez — again / another time
- la primera vez — the first time
- a veces — sometimes (at times)
- muchas veces — many times
Quick Decision Guide
- Talking about duration or “time” as a concept? → tiempo
- Talking about the clock or an hour? → hora
- Counting occasions (“two times,” “again”)? → vez / veces
If you can replace “time” with “duration,” use tiempo; with “o’clock,” use hora; with “occasion,” use vez.
Pronunciation & Cultural Tips
- tiempo: tee-EM-po — the “tie” glides quickly into “yem,” stress on EM.
- hora: OH-rah — the h is silent (a classic Spanish rule), so it’s just “OH-rah.”
- vez: behs in Latin America; in Spain the z is a soft “th” (beth). Its plural veces is BEH-ses (or BEH-thes in Spain).
- Common, useful expressions worth memorizing: a tiempo (on time), a la vez (at the same time), de vez en cuando (from time to time), and ¿A qué hora? (at what time?).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say time in Spanish?
It depends on the meaning. 'Tiempo' (tee-EM-po) is time in general or duration ('no tengo tiempo' = I don't have time). 'Hora' (OH-rah) is clock time ('¿Qué hora es?' = what time is it?). 'Vez' (behs) is an occasion or instance ('otra vez' = another time/again).
How do you pronounce tiempo?
Say it tee-EM-po. The 'tie' is a quick 'tyem' glide, with the stress on the EM: tee-EM-po. The final 'po' rhymes with 'go'. It's the same root as English 'tempo'.
What is the difference between tiempo, hora and vez?
'Tiempo' = time as a concept or duration (and also 'weather'!). 'Hora' = the time on the clock or a scheduled hour. 'Vez' = a single occasion or instance. So 'a tiempo' = on time, '¿Qué hora es?' = what time is it, and 'la primera vez' = the first time.
Does tiempo also mean weather in Spanish?
Yes. 'Tiempo' means both 'time' and 'weather'. '¿Qué tiempo hace?' means 'What's the weather like?', while 'No tengo tiempo' means 'I don't have time'. Context makes it clear which one you mean.
How do you ask what time it is in Spanish?
Use 'hora', not 'tiempo': '¿Qué hora es?' (keh OH-rah es) = What time is it? To answer: 'Es la una' (it's one o'clock) or 'Son las dos' (it's two o'clock). 'On time' is 'a tiempo'.