Spanish Time & Age Idioms
Master 6 authentic Spanish expressions about time & age with meanings, examples, and pronunciation guidance
Understanding Spanish Time & Age Idioms
Spanish time and age idioms express concepts about punctuality, aging, life stages, and temporal experiences. From "en un abrir y cerrar de ojos" (in the blink of an eye) to "estar en la flor de la vida" (to be in the prime of life), these expressions help speakers discuss the passage of time and life's journey with cultural nuance.
When to Use These Expressions
Time and age idioms are used when discussing deadlines, describing how quickly something happened, talking about life stages, or commenting on aging. They're common in both personal and professional contexts.
Learning Tips for Time & Age Idioms
- Practice idioms about speed and duration separately from those about aging
- Note cultural attitudes toward age and time—they differ from English-speaking cultures
- Use time idioms to add urgency or calm to your speech
- Learn idioms about different life stages for more nuanced expression
Most Common Time & Age Idioms
Start with these high-frequency expressions used daily by native speakers
A quien madruga Dios le ayuda
★★★★★Literal: "God helps the one who gets up early."
Meaning: Starting your day or a task early gives you an advantage and leads to success and good fortune.
Más vale tarde que nunca
★★★★★Literal: "It's worth more late than never."
Meaning: It's better to do something late than to not do it at all.
Hacer el agosto
★★★★☆Literal: "To make the August"
Meaning: To make a lot of money quickly, often by taking advantage of a specific situation; to make a killing.
Complete List of Time & Age Idioms
A quien madruga Dios le ayuda
"God helps the one who gets up early."
Starting your day or a task early gives you an advantage and leads to success and good fortune.
Hacer el agosto
"To make the August"
To make a lot of money quickly, often by taking advantage of a specific situation; to make a killing.
Más vale tarde que nunca
"It's worth more late than never."
It's better to do something late than to not do it at all.
Más viejo que Matusalén
"Older than Methuselah"
To be extremely old, ancient, or outdated.
Pasar la noche en blanco
"To pass the night in white."
To stay up all night without sleeping; to have a sleepless night.
Pasar una noche toledana
"To spend a Toledan night"
To have a terrible, sleepless night, often due to worry, noise, or discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Time & Age Idioms
What are common Spanish time idioms?
Common Spanish time idioms include "en un abrir y cerrar de ojos" (in the blink of an eye), "a la hora de la verdad" (when the moment of truth arrives), "llegar a la tercera edad" (to reach old age), and "estar en la flor de la vida" (to be in one's prime). These expressions describe temporal experiences and life stages.
How do Spanish speakers talk about being late or on time?
Spanish has many time-related expressions like "llegar con las justas" (to arrive just in time), "llegar tarde y mal" (to arrive late and in bad shape), and "tener todo el tiempo del mundo" (to have all the time in the world). Note that punctuality norms vary across Spanish-speaking cultures.
Have more questions about learning Spanish idioms? Browse our complete idiom guide or explore our learning resources.
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