horas
/OH-rahs/
hours
The primary meaning of *horas* is 'hours' as a unit of duration. The image illustrates the passing of multiple units of time from day into night.
📝 In Action
La película dura dos horas.
A1The movie lasts for two hours.
Necesito dormir ocho horas esta noche.
A1I need to sleep eight hours tonight.
Nos vemos en unas horas.
A2See you in a few hours.
💡 Grammar Points
Just the Plural of 'Hora'
'Horas' is simply the plural form of 'hora' (hour). You use it anytime you're talking about more than one hour.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Horas' vs. 'Tiempo'
Mistake: "No tengo muchas horas para hablar."
Correction: It's more natural to say, 'No tengo mucho tiempo para hablar.' Use 'horas' for a specific number of hours ('dos horas') and 'tiempo' for the general idea of time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Duration
To say something lasts 'for' a certain number of hours, you often don't need an extra word. 'Trabajé ocho horas' means 'I worked for eight hours'.
In Spanish, *horas* is frequently used when telling the specific time of day, often translated as 'o'clock,' indicating a precise moment for an event.
📝 In Action
¿Qué horas son? —Son las tres.
A1What time is it? —It's three o'clock.
La clase empieza a las nueve horas.
A1The class starts at nine o'clock.
Llegó a altas horas de la noche.
B1He arrived very late at night (in the wee hours).
💡 Grammar Points
Telling Time: 'Son las...'
To tell the time, you almost always use 'Son las...' followed by the number (e.g., 'Son las cuatro'). The only time you don't is for one o'clock: 'Es la una'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'a las'
Mistake: "La cena es las ocho."
Correction: La cena es a las ocho. When saying something happens *at* a certain time, you need to put 'a las' before the number.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for the Time
You can ask '¿Qué hora es?' or '¿Qué horas son?'. They both mean 'What time is it?' and are equally correct. You'll hear both used all the time.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: horas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I have a lot of free time today'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you say 'Son las dos' but 'Es la una' when telling time?
Think of it as a shortened sentence. You're really saying 'Son las dos horas' (They are two hours) and 'Es la una hora' (It is one hour). Since 'una' (one) is singular, you use the singular verb 'es'. For all other numbers, which are plural, you use the plural verb 'son'.
Is it better to ask '¿Qué hora es?' or '¿Qué horas son?'
Both are perfectly correct and mean the exact same thing: 'What time is it?'. You can use them interchangeably. Some places might prefer one over the other, but everyone will understand you no matter which one you choose.