Learn how to tell the time in English.
In English, the 12-hour clock is normally used for telling the time. The 24-hour clock is only used for travel timetables.
Asking the time
| What's the time? |
| What time is it? |
| Could you tell me the time, please? |
| Do you happen to have the time? |
| Do you know what time it is? |
Telling the time
| It's … |
| exactly ... |
| about ... |
| almost ... |
| just gone ... |
| One o'clock |
| Two o'clock |
| Three o'clock |
| Four o'clock |
| Five o'clock |
| Six o'clock |
| Seven o'clock |
| Eight o'clock |
| Nine o'clock |
| Ten o'clock |
| Eleven o'clock |
| Twelve o'clock |
| Quarter past … |
| one |
| two |
| three |
| Five past one |
| Ten past one |
| Twenty past one |
| Twenty-five past one |
| Five to two |
| Ten to two |
| Twenty to two |
| Twenty-five to two |
| Ten fifteen |
| Ten thirty |
| Ten forty-five |
It's also possible to state the time in English by saying the hour followed by the minutes, followed by am or pm if necessary, eg:
Clocks
| That clock's a little … |
| fast |
| slow |
