Ever messed up an appointment because you said “half past two” when you meant “two thirty”? You’re in good company. Telling time in English can feel like a secret code — but once you crack it, it’s second nature.
This collection of around 133 time-telling words and phrases is your cheat sheet. Every entry comes with a simple meaning, a realistic example sentence, and US IPA so you can pronounce it right. Tap the play button to hear the audio — because hearing it once is worth reading it ten times.
Tick-tock, time learners — if you want the handy extras, scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable how to tell time in english vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable how to tell time in english flashcards.
Memorizing phrases is one thing — using them in conversation is the real win. Our free English lessons teach you natural chunks so you can talk about time (and everything else) without freezing. Start with Lesson 1 for friendly openings, or browse the full set to build your confidence.
Quick Quiz
<p>Think you’ve got time-telling down? Try the quiz below and find out — it’s quick, painless, and might just surprise you.</p>
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| Word / Phrase | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| a quarter after | /ə ˈkwɔːrtər ˈæftər/ | 15 minutes after the hour. | It's a quarter after four. |
| a quarter past | /ə ˈkwɔːrtər pæst/ | 15 minutes after the hour. | It's a quarter past four. |
| a quarter to | /ə ˈkwɔːrtər tuː/ | 15 minutes before the next hour. | It's a quarter to ten. |
| a.m. | /ˌeɪ ˈɛm/ | From midnight to before noon. | The bus arrives at 7:30 a.m. |
| ago | Before now (used after a time amount). | She left five minutes ago. | |
| ahead of time | Before the expected time. | Please arrive ahead of time. | |
| always | At all times; every time. | She always arrives early. | |
| appointment | A planned meeting at a set time. | I have a dentist appointment at 2. | |
| April | The fourth month of the year. | It rains a lot in April. | |
| at (time) | Used with exact clock times. | Meet me at 3:30. | |
| at night | /æt naɪt/ | Late hours after evening. | I don't like driving at night. |
| August | The eighth month of the year. | We visit family in August. | |
| autumn | The season after summer (UK). | It gets cool in autumn. | |
| behind schedule | Later than planned. | The flight is behind schedule. | |
| business hours | Times when a business is open. | Call during business hours. | |
| by (deadline) | No later than a time. | Finish the report by Friday. | |
| calendar | A chart of days, weeks, and months. | Mark it on the calendar. | |
| century | A period of one hundred years. | That building is over a century old. | |
| daily | Every day. | Take this medicine daily. | |
| dawn | Early morning when the sun rises. | We left at dawn. | |
| day | A period of 24 hours. | I work eight hours a day. | |
| deadline | The latest time something must be done. | The deadline is midnight. | |
| decade | A period of ten years. | A lot changed in the last decade. | |
| December | The twelfth month of the year. | We celebrate in December. | |
| Do you have the time? | /duː juː hæv ðə taɪm/ | Polite way to ask for the time. | Excuse me, do you have the time? |
Free How to Tell Time in English Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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