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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| duration | How long something lasts. | The duration of the film is two hours. | |
| during | Throughout a period of time. | No calls during the meeting. | |
| dusk | The time just after sunset. | The lights turn on at dusk. | |
| early | /ˈɜːrli/ | Before the expected time. | She arrived early. |
| eighteen fifteen | /ˌeɪˈtiːn ˌfɪfˈtiːn/ | 6:15 p.m. in 24-hour spoken form. | Check-in is at eighteen fifteen. |
| every day | Each day without exception. | I walk every day. | |
| fall | The season after summer (US). | Leaves change color in fall. | |
| February | The second month of the year. | February is short. | |
| fifteen | /ˌfɪfˈtiːn/ | The number 15. | Fifteen minutes is a quarter of an hour. |
| fifty | /ˈfɪfti/ | The number 50. | It's fifty minutes past the hour. |
| for (duration) | Shows how long something lasts. | I waited for twenty minutes. | |
| fortnight | A period of two weeks. | We visit every fortnight. | |
| fourteen thirty | /ˌfɔːrtiːn ˈθɜːrti/ | 2:30 p.m. in 24-hour spoken form. | Class ends at fourteen thirty. |
| Friday | The sixth day of the week. | The party is on Friday night. | |
| half an hour | A period of 30 minutes. | Wait half an hour. | |
| half past | /hæf pæst/ | 30 minutes after the hour. | It's half past six. |
| hour | A unit of time equal to 60 minutes. | The flight is two hours. | |
| in (month/year) | Used with months, years, and longer periods. | We met in 2020. | |
| in a minute | Very soon; in a short time. | I'll be there in a minute. | |
| in an hour | One hour from now. | Dinner will be ready in an hour. | |
| in the afternoon | /ɪn ði ˌæftərˈnuːn/ | After noon and before evening. | The interview is in the afternoon. |
| in the evening | /ɪn ði ˈiːvnɪŋ/ | Late afternoon into early night. | We usually eat dinner in the evening. |
| in the morning | /ɪn ðə ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ | During the early part of the day, before noon. | The appointment is in the morning. |
| January | The first month of the year. | My birthday is in January. | |
| July | The seventh month of the year. | July is hot here. |
Free How to Tell Time in English Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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