How to tell the time in English
Saying the time
When we talk about time on a clock, we have analogue and digital clocks – analogue clocks with hands and digital clocks with numbers. We use either the 12-hour clock or the 24-hour clock.
The 12-hour clock uses ‘am’ – Ante Meridiem and ‘pm’ – Post Meridiem (after noon) to distinguish the difference between day and night. For more details click here.
The 24-hour clock is used for timetables
10 o’clock in morning can also be expressed as 10am or 10:00
and 10 o’clock at night can also be expressed as 10pm or 22:00
1 o’clock in the morning – 1am or 01:00
and 1 o’clock in the afternoon 1pm or 13:00
01:00 – 1am – It’s one o’clock (in the morning).
02:00 – 2am – It’s two o’clock (in the morning).
03:00 – 3am – It’s three o’clock (in the morning).
04:00 – 4am – It’s four o’clock (in the morning).
05:00 – 5am – It’s five o’clock (in the morning).
06:00 – 6am – It’s six o’clock (in the morning).
07:00 – 7am – It’s seven o’clock (in the morning).
08:00 – 8am – It’s eight o’clock (in the morning).
09:00 – 9am – It’s nine o’clock (in the morning).
10:00 – 10am – It’s ten o’clock (in the morning).
11:00 – 11am – It’s eleven o’clock (in the morning).
12:00 – 11.59am – 12.01pm – It’s twelve midday/noon
12:30 – 12.30pm
13:00 – 1pm – It’s one o’clock (in the afternoon).
14:00 – 2pm – It’s two o’clock (in the afternoon).
15:00 – 3pm – It’s three o’clock (in the afternoon).
16:00 – 4pm – It’s four o’clock (in the afternoon).
17:00 – 5pm – It’s five o’clock (in the afternoon).
18:00 – 6pm – It’s six o’clock (in the evening).
19:00 – 7pm – It’s seven o’clock (in the evening).
20:00 – 8pm – It’s eight o’clock (in the evening).
21:00 – 9pm – It’s nine o’clock (at night).
22:00 – 10pm – It’s ten o’clock (at night).
23:00 – 11pm – It’s eleven o’clock (at night).
24:00 – 11.59pm – 12.01am – It’s twelve midnight
We only use o’clock for the hours (on the dot).
For times outside the hour and five-minute intervals, we say minutes past or minutes to:
01:01 (one-oh-one) – one minute past one
01:02 (one-oh-two) – two minutes past one
01:03 (one-oh-three) – three minutes past one
01:04 (one-oh-four) – four minutes past one
01:05 (one-oh-five) – five past one
01:06 (one-oh-six) – six minutes past one
01:07 (one-oh-seven) – seven minutes past one
01:08 (one-oh-eight) – eight minutes past one
01:09 (one-oh-nine) – nine minutes past one
01:10 (one-ten) – ten past one
01:11 (one-eleven) – eleven minutes past one
01:12 (one-twelve) – twelve minutes past one
01:13 (one-thirteen) – thirteen minutes past one
01:14 (one-fourteen) – fourteen minutes past one
01:15 (one-fifteen) – fifteen minutes past one or (a) quarter past one
01:16 (one-sixteen) – sixteen minutes past one
01:17 (one-seventeen) – seventeen minutes past one
01:18 (one-eighteen) – eighteen minutes past one
01:19 (one-nineteen) – nineteen minutes past one
01:20 (one-twenty) – twenty past one
01:21 (one-twenty-one) – twenty-one minutes past one
01:22 (one-twenty-two) – twenty-two minutes past one
01:23 (one-twenty-three) – twenty-three minutes past one
01:24 (one-twenty-four) – twenty-four minutes past one
01:25 (one-twenty-five) – twenty-five past one
01:26 (one-twenty-six) – twenty-six minutes past one
01:27 (one-twenty-seven) – twenty-seven minutes past one
01:28 (one-twenty-eight) – twenty-eight minutes past one
01:29 (one-twenty-nine) – twenty-nine minutes past one
01:30 (one-thirty) – thirty minutes past one or half past one
01:31 (one-thirty-one) – twenty-nine minutes to two
01:32 (one-thirty-two) – twenty-eight minutes to two
01:33 (one-thirty-three) – twenty-seven minutes to two
01:34 (one-thirty-four) – twenty-six minutes to two
01:35 (one-thirty-five) – twenty-five to two
01:36 (one-thirty-six) – twenty-four minutes to two
01:37 (one-thirty-seven)- twenty-three minutes to two
01:38 (one-thirty-eight) – twenty-two minutes to two
01:39 (one-thirty-nine) – twenty-one minutes to two
01:40 (one-forty) – twenty to two
01:41 (one-forty-one) – nineteen minutes to two
01:42 (one-forty-two) – eighteen minutes to two
01:43 (one-forty-three) – seventeen minutes to two
01:44 (one-forty-four) – sixteen minutes to two
01:45 (one-forty-five) – fifteen minutes to two or (a) quarter to two
01:46 (one- forty-six) – fourteen minutes to two
01:47 (one-forty-seven) – thirteen minutes to two
01:48 (one-forty-eight) – twelve minutes to two
01:49 (one-forty-nine) – eleven minutes to two
01:50 (one-fifty) – ten to two
01:51 (one-fifty-one) – nine minutes to two
01:52 (one-fifty-two) – eight minutes to two
01:53 (one-fifty-three) – seven minutes to two
01:54 (one-fifty-four) – six minutes to two
01:55 (one-fifty-five)- five to two
01:56 (one-fifty-six) – four minutes to two
01:57 (one-fifty-seven) – three minutes to two
01:58 (one-fifty-eight) – two minutes to two
01:59 (one-fifty-nine) – one minute to two
02:00 (oh-two-hundred hours) – two o’clock
Expressions used when telling the time
It is exactly… It’s exactly two o’clock
It is about… It’s about two o’clock
It is around… It’s around two o’clock
It is almost… It’s almost two o’clock
It has just gone… It’s just gone two o’clock
Expressions used when you don’t know the time
Sorry, I have no idea.
I couldn’t tell you.
I haven’t got a clue.
Asking for the time
What’s the time?
What time is it?
Have you got the right time?
Could you tell me the time, please?
Do you happen to have the right time?
Do you know what time it is?
What time do you make it?
What time is the next… (bus, train) to…?
What time does the next…(bus, train, flight) leave/arrive?
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