📝 In Action
La película termina justo a medianoche.
A1The movie ends right at midnight.
Necesito enviar el informe antes de la medianoche.
A2I need to send the report before midnight.
Estuvimos despiertos hasta la medianoche charlando con los vecinos.
B1We were awake until midnight chatting with the neighbors.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun
Even though it refers to a time, 'medianoche' is always a feminine word. You need to use the feminine article 'la' when you refer to it generally (e.g., 'Es la medianoche').
Using 'A' for Time
To say something happens at midnight, use the preposition 'a': 'a medianoche' (e.g., 'Llegamos a medianoche').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "El medianoche"
Correction: La medianoche. Always use 'la' because it is a feminine word.
Noon vs. Midnight
Mistake: "Confusing 'medianoche' with 'mediodía'."
Correction: 'Medianoche' is 12:00 AM (night), and 'mediodía' is 12:00 PM (day).
⭐ Usage Tips
Time Format
Spanish speakers usually use the 24-hour clock (00:00), so 'medianoche' is a great, clear way to specify 12 AM without confusion.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: medianoche
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'medianoche'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'medianoche' a feminine word?
The word 'noche' (night), which is the second part of 'medianoche,' is feminine in Spanish. When two words combine like this, the gender often follows the main noun, which in this case is 'noche'.
Do I need 'la' before 'medianoche'?
It depends on the phrase. When you say 'at midnight,' you usually just say 'a medianoche' without 'la.' However, if you are using it as the subject or object of a sentence, you need 'la' (e.g., 'La medianoche es silenciosa' / 'Midnight is silent').