Inklingo
← Dictionary

hora

OH-rahˈoɾa

“hora” means “hour” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

hour

Also: o'clock
NounfA1
A large, brightly colored hourglass standing upright, with sand actively flowing from the top bulb to the bottom bulb, representing the passage of 60 minutes.

📝 In Action

La película dura dos horas.

A1

The movie is two hours long.

Nos vemos en media hora.

A2

See you in half an hour.

El tren llega a las cinco en punto.

A2

The train arrives at five o'clock sharp.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • media hora – half an hour
  • un cuarto de hora – a quarter of an hour
  • hora punta / hora pico – rush hour
  • veinticuatro horas – twenty-four hours

Idioms & Expressions

  • a última hora – at the last minute

time

Also: appointment, turn
NounfA2
SpainLatin America
A friendly doctor in a white coat shaking hands with a patient at the doorway of an office, symbolizing a scheduled appointment or meeting time.

📝 In Action

¿A qué hora empieza la clase?

A1

What time does the class start?

Ya es hora de cenar.

A2

It's time for dinner now.

Tengo hora con la dentista el viernes.

B1

I have an appointment with the dentist on Friday.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pedir hora – to make an appointment
  • dar la hora – to set a time / to arrange a time
  • hora de llegada – arrival time
  • hora de salida – departure time

Idioms & Expressions

  • ya era hora – it's about time!
  • en buena hora – great, good for you (can be sarcastic)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "hora" in Spanish:

appointment→hour→o'clock→time→turn→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hora

Question 1 of 2

Your friend says, 'Nos vemos a las ocho'. What does she mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'hōra', which meant 'hour' or 'season'. The Latin word itself was borrowed from the ancient Greek 'ὥρα' (hṓra), which had a similar meaning.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: horaItalian: oraFrench: heureEnglish: hour

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'hora' and 'tiempo'?

'Hora' refers to the time on a clock ('¿Qué hora es?') or a specific, scheduled time (like an appointment). 'Tiempo' refers to time in a general, uncounted sense ('No tengo tiempo' / 'I don't have time') and it also means 'weather'.

Why do you say 'Es la una' but 'Son las dos'?

It's because 'una' (one) is singular, so you use the singular verb 'es'. All other numbers are plural, so you use the plural verb 'son'. It's like thinking 'It is one hour' versus 'They are two hours'.

How do I say 2:30? Is it 'dos y treinta' or 'dos y media'?

Both are correct and widely used! 'Dos y treinta' is like saying 'two-thirty', and 'dos y media' is like saying 'half-past two'. 'Media' is a shorter way of saying 'media hora' (half an hour).