Spanish uses several words for English “time.” Choose among tiempo, hora, vez, and momento based on whether you mean duration, clock time, an occurrence, or a brief moment.
time in Spanish = tiempo, hora, vez, or momento, pronounced approximately TYEM-poh / OH-rah / behs / moh-MEN-toh.
How Do You Say time in Spanish?
Tiempo refers to time in general, duration, or sometimes weather. Hora means an hour or clock time. Vez means an occasion or number of times, and momento means a moment.
Meaning: time; duration, clock time, occasion, or moment
Ask ¿Qué hora es? to find out the time, but use ¿Cuánto tiempo? to ask how long. For “three times,” say tres veces.
Different Ways to Express time
English uses one broad word where Spanish distinguishes several ideas. Match the Spanish noun to the sense you intend.
1. Tiempo — time or duration
tiempo — time; duration. Use it for time in general or for how long something takes. Longer calendar units include a week and months. In another context, tiempo can also mean weather.
2. Hora — clock time or an hour
hora — hour; time of day. Use it to ask or state clock time. A specific hour uses the feminine form: <em>la una</em>, <em>las dos</em>.
3. Vez — an occasion or count
vez — time; occasion. Use <em>vez</em> for one occurrence and <em>veces</em> for multiple occurrences: <em>dos veces</em> means “twice.”
4. Momento — a moment
momento — moment; short period. Use it for a brief point or period, as in <em>un momento</em> (“a moment”).
time in Spanish: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| Spanish | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| tiempo | time; duration | Duration and general time |
| hora | hour; time of day | Clock time |
| vez | time; occasion | Number of occurrences |
| momento | moment; short period | Brief moment |
How to Pronounce tiempo, hora, vez, or momento
In tiempo, pronounce ie as one glide. Hora has a silent h. Vez ends in a soft s sound in most of Spain and Latin America. Momento has four clear syllables.
Example Sentences Using time
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: I don’t have time today.
Use: Tiempo means time available or duration.
Meaning: What time is it?
Use: Hora is used for clock time.
Meaning: I have visited Madrid three times.
Use: Use veces to count occasions.
Frequently Asked Questions About time in Spanish
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the most common word for “time” in Spanish?
Tiempo is common for time in general and duration, but clock time is hora and an occurrence is vez.
How do I ask what time it is?
Say ¿Qué hora es?
How do I say “how much time”?
Say ¿Cuánto tiempo? or ¿Cuánto tiempo dura? depending on the full question.
How do you say “three times”?
Say tres veces. The singular is vez; the plural is veces.
Can <em>tiempo</em> mean weather?
Yes. Depending on context, el tiempo can refer to weather as well as time.
Summary: time in Spanish
Use tiempo for general time or duration, hora for clock time, vez/veces for an occurrence or count, and momento for a brief point. Context decides which translation fits.
