Spanish Phrase
Son las dos y veinte.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to express that the current time is 2:20. It uses the plural verb 'son' because the hour is greater than one, followed by the feminine article 'las' which refers to the implied word 'horas'.
When to use
Use this phrase to answer questions about the time or to indicate a specific moment during the day. It is suitable for any social or professional context.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sonlasdosyveinte
Son
The plural form of the verb 'ser', used because 'dos' (two) is plural.
las
Feminine plural article used because 'horas' (hours) is feminine and plural.
y
The conjunction used to add minutes to the hour.
🗨In Conversation
¿Tienes la hora?
Do you have the time?
Sí, son las dos y veinte.
Yes, it is two twenty.
✕Common Mistakes
Es las dos y veinte.
Use 'son' for any hour besides one o'clock.
Son las dos veinte.
Always use 'y' (and) to separate hours and minutes in Spanish.
↔Alternatives
Son las catorce veinte.
It is fourteen twenty.
Faltan cuarenta para las tres.
It's forty until three.
Cultural Tip
While 12-hour time is common in speech, digital clocks and official schedules in Spain and Latin America often use the 24-hour format. To be specific about the time of day in conversation, you can add 'de la tarde' for PM or 'de la madrugada' for very early AM.