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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | The sixth month of the year. | School ends in June. | |
| last month | The month before this one. | I traveled last month. | |
| last week | The week before this one. | I was sick last week. | |
| late | /leɪt/ | After the expected time. | He was late for school. |
| later | At a time after now. | We can talk later. | |
| March | The third month of the year. | Spring starts in March. | |
| May | The fifth month of the year. | We travel in May. | |
| midday | The middle of the day; around noon. | We eat at midday. | |
| midnight | /ˈmɪdnaɪt/ | 12:00 at night (12:00 a.m.). | The party ends at midnight. |
| minute | A unit of time equal to 60 seconds. | The meeting is ten minutes long. | |
| Monday | The second day of the week in the US. | School starts on Monday. | |
| month | One of the twelve parts of a year. | Rent is due every month. | |
| monthly | Every month. | Pay rent monthly. | |
| never | At no time; not ever. | I never skip breakfast. | |
| next month | The month after this one. | We move next month. | |
| next week | The week after this one. | Vacation starts next week. | |
| nine twenty | /naɪn ˈtwɛnti/ | 9:20 in digital style. | The class starts at nine twenty. |
| noon | /nuːn/ | 12:00 in the daytime (12:00 p.m.). | Let's meet at noon. |
| November | The eleventh month of the year. | Thanksgiving is in November. | |
| now | At this moment. | I need to leave now. | |
| o'clock | /əˈklɑːk/ | Used for exact hours with no minutes. | It's three o'clock. |
| October | The tenth month of the year. | Halloween is in October. | |
| often | Many times; frequently. | We often eat out on Fridays. | |
| oh (in minutes) | /oʊ/ | Used for zero in the minutes part of a time. | It's eight oh five. |
| on (day) | Used with days and dates. | See you on Friday. |
Free How to Tell Time in English Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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