How to Say ‘It's a quarter to six.’ in Mexican Spanish
Son las seis menos cuarto.
sohn lahs says meh-nohs KWAR-toh
[sohn lahs says meh-nohs KWAR-toh]
🇲🇽 In Mexico: menos cuarto is understood everywhere, but Mexicans more often say cuarto para las seis "quarter to six."
Phrase Breakdown
Son las seis
sohn lahs says
It's six o'clock
'Seis' is one syllable, rhyming with 'face'. Don't split it into 'say-ees'.
Son las seis, ya amaneció.
It's six, the sun is up.
Words in this phrase
Son
[sohn]
it is / they are
Used to state a price, especially with plural pesos amounts.
El taxista respondió «Son» trescientos, pero me pareció mucho.
The taxi driver replied "it is" three hundred, but it seemed like a lot to me.
las
[lahs]
the (plural feminine, used with hours)
In time expressions, “las” is used because “hora” is feminine and plural is implied: “a las 3,” “a las 11.”
Quedamos a las 11 para revisar pendientes.
We’ll meet at 11 to review pending items.
seis
[says]
six
The number 6; often used with hours in deadlines.
La política pide avisar seis horas antes.
The policy asks you to notify six hours in advance.
menos cuarto.
meh-nohs KWAR-toh
minus a quarter (quarter to)
'Menos cuarto' takes fifteen minutes away, so the full phrase means 5:45. Say 'MEH-nos KWAR-toh'. In Mexico people often say 'cuarto para las seis' instead.
Son las dos menos cuarto.
It's a quarter to two.
Words in this phrase
menos
[meh-nohs]
less
Indicating a lower amount.
Menos tiempo implica menos trabajo.
Less time means less work.
cuarto
[KWAR-toh]
quarter
One fourth; in shops, a quarter kilo (250 grams).
Deme un cuarto de jamón.
Give me a quarter kilo of ham.
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