A brightly colored, traditional hourglass with sand actively streaming from the top bulb to the bottom, symbolizing the passing of time in small units.

minutos

/mee-NOO-tohs/

NounmA1

minutes?unit of time

📝 In Action

La película empieza en cinco minutos.

The movie starts in five minutes.

Espera unos minutos, por favor.

Wait a few minutes, please.

Tardo veinte minutos en llegar al trabajo.

It takes me twenty minutes to get to work.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

en pocos minutos – in a few minutes
hace diez minutos – ten minutes ago
minutos de silencio – minutes of silence
a los pocos minutos – after a few minutes

Idioms & Expressions

llegar en el último minuto – To arrive just in the nick of time.
tener sus cinco minutos de fama – To have one's moment in the spotlight (like 'fifteen minutes of fame' in English).

💡 Grammar Points

Plural of 'minuto'

'Minutos' is simply the plural form of 'minuto' (minute). You use it for any number other than one. For example, 'un minuto' but 'dos minutos'.

Talking About Duration

To say how long something takes, you can use the verb 'tardar'. For example, 'Tardo diez minutos' means 'It takes me ten minutes'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using Plural for 'One'

Mistake: "Necesito un minutos."

Correction: For the number one, always use the singular form: 'Necesito un minuto'. 'Minutos' is for two or more.

⭐ Usage Tips

Saying 'A Few Minutes'

A very natural way to say 'a few minutes' or 'some minutes' is 'unos minutos'. For example, 'Vuelvo en unos minutos' (I'll be back in a few minutes).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: minutos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly says 'I need two minutes'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

minuto(minute) - noun

minutero(minute hand (of a clock)) - noun

minucioso(meticulous, thorough) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'minuto' and 'minutos'?

'Minuto' is singular and means one single minute. 'Minutos' is the plural form, used for any number greater than one (like 'cinco minutos') or when talking about minutes in general.

How do I abbreviate 'minutos'?

The standard abbreviation is 'min.' It works for both the singular 'minuto' and the plural 'minutos'. You might see '5 min.' written on instructions or signs.