Spanish Prepositions for Telling Time

Learning Spanish is like embarking on a grand adventure—full of twists, turns, and the occasional “Wait, what?” moment. One of those moments might just be when you realise that telling time in Spanish isn’t as straightforward as slapping numbers on a clock.

Prepositions, those little linguistic glue sticks, are the unsung heroes here, helping you pinpoint exactly when something happens and adding a touch of finesse to your everyday chat. Ready to level up your Spanish skills? Let’s dive into the prepositions that make telling time a breeze (or at least less of a head-scratcher).

uno

“A” – Zeroing in on the Exact Time

When you need to nail down the exact moment something kicks off, “a” is your trusty sidekick. Simple but absolutely indispensable.

Nos vemos a las tres. (We meet at three.)

La clase empieza a las ocho. (The class starts at eight.)

dos

“En” – For All Seasons (and Months, and Years…)

If you’re chatting about a broader time frame like a month, season, or year, “en” is your go-to preposition. It’s perfect for those moments when you’re setting the stage in the grand timeline of past, present, or future.

Empezó la universidad en 2020. (He/She started university in 2020.)

Nací en julio. (I was born in July.)

Vamos de vacaciones en verano. (We go on holiday in summer.)

tres

“De” – From Dusk Till Dawn (or Any Other Time)

“De” is your versatile pal for expressing “from” one time to another. It’s also brilliant for those parts of the day when the sun is still deciding what to do with itself.

Me despierto de madrugada. (I wake up at dawn.)

Trabajamos de lunes a viernes. (We work from Monday to Friday.)

cuatro

“Por” – For Those Vague, General Time Periods

When you’re talking about a part of the day but aren’t too fussed about being exact, “por” has your back. It’s ideal for chatting about routines or general times.

Estudio español por la noche. (I study Spanish in the evening.)

Vamos a correr por la mañana. (We go running in the morning.)

cinco

“Desde” and “Hasta” – The Dynamic Duo of Time Frames

These two prepositions are like the Batman and Robin of time expressions. “Desde” means “since” or “from,” while “hasta” means “until.” Together, they neatly bookend your experiences in time.

Trabajé desde las 8 hasta las 5. (I worked from 8 until 5.)

Estudio español desde 2019. (I’ve been studying Spanish since 2019.)

La tienda está abierta hasta las 9 p.m. (The store is open until 9 p.m.)

seis

“Durante” – For the Duration

Want to emphasise how long something went on for? “Durante” is the word you’re after. It’s just the thing for spotlighting the duration of an event or activity.

Por ejemplo:

Estudié durante tres horas. (I studied for three hours.)

Dormí durante el viaje. (I slept during the trip.)

siete

“Antes de” and “Después de” – Before and After: A Classic Combo

These prepositions are the bread and butter of any timeline, helping you sequence events with ease. “Antes de” means “before,” and “Después de” means “after.” They’re essential for getting your schedule in order—or at least sounding like you have one.

Me ducho después de hacer ejercicio. (I shower after exercising.)

Voy a cenar antes de salir. (I’ll have dinner before going out.)

ocho

“Dentro de” – Within: The Countdown Begins

This preposition is your trusty companion when you need to talk about something happening “within” a certain amount of time. It’s all about marking the time between now and when something is set to occur. Perfect for setting expectations, making plans, or talking about deadlines.

llegaré dentro de una hora. (I will arrive in an hour)

El proyecto estará listo dentro dos semanas. (The project will be ready in two weeks)

Nos vemos dentro de diez minutos. (We’ll see each other in ten minutes)

Top Tip for Mastering These Prepositions

Here’s the thing: Spanish prepositions aren’t always a one-to-one translation from English. The trick to mastering them is less about rote memorisation and more about getting out there and using them. Listen to how native speakers do it, and before you know it, these prepositions will slip into your sentences as naturally as your favourite Spanish exclamation—¡Olé!

By getting the hang of these prepositions, you’re not just learning to tell time; you’re unlocking a smoother, more fluent way of speaking that’ll make your conversations flow like a perfectly timed siesta. Happy learning!