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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| on schedule | Happening at the planned time. | The project is on schedule. | |
| once a week | One time per week. | I go to the gym once a week. | |
| p.m. | /ˌpiː ˈɛm/ | From noon to before midnight. | The movie starts at 8:00 p.m. |
| punctual | Arriving at the expected time. | She is always punctual. | |
| quarter of an hour | A period of 15 minutes. | It takes a quarter of an hour. | |
| rarely | Not often; almost never. | He rarely checks email at night. | |
| right on time | /raɪt ɑːn taɪm/ | Exactly at the expected time. | The bus arrived right on time. |
| rush hour | Busy traffic time morning and evening. | Avoid driving during rush hour. | |
| Saturday | The seventh day of the week in the US. | We shop on Saturday. | |
| schedule | A plan of times for events. | What is your schedule tomorrow? | |
| second | A very short unit of time. | Wait a second. | |
| September | The ninth month of the year. | Classes start in September. | |
| seven forty-five | /ˈsɛvən ˌfɔːrtiˈfaɪv/ | 7:45 in digital style. | The train leaves at seven forty-five. |
| since | From a past point until now. | I have lived here since 2019. | |
| sometimes | At some times but not always. | I sometimes work from home. | |
| soon | In a short time from now. | The bus will arrive soon. | |
| spring | The season after winter. | Flowers bloom in spring. | |
| summer | The warmest season. | We swim in summer. | |
| Sunday | The first day of the week in the US. | We rest on Sunday. | |
| sunrise | The time when the sun comes up. | Sunrise is at 6:15. | |
| sunset | The time when the sun goes down. | Sunset is beautiful here. | |
| ten after | /tɛn ˈæftər/ | 10 minutes after the hour. | It's ten after eight. |
| ten past | /tɛn pæst/ | 10 minutes after the hour. | It's ten past eight. |
| ten to | /tɛn tuː/ | 10 minutes before the next hour. | It's ten to eight. |
| thirteen | /θɜːrˈtiːn/ | The number 13. | It's thirteen minutes past two. |
Free How to Tell Time in English Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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