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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| thirteen hundred | /θɜːrˈtiːn ˈhʌndrəd/ | 1:00 p.m. in 24-hour spoken form. | The train leaves at thirteen hundred. |
| thirty | /ˈθɜːrti/ | The number 30. | It's thirty minutes past two. |
| this afternoon | Today, after noon. | I have a call this afternoon. | |
| this morning | Earlier today, before noon. | I exercised this morning. | |
| three twelve | /θriː twɛlv/ | Hour first, then minutes (3:12). | The meeting is at three twelve. |
| Thursday | The fifth day of the week. | Dinner is on Thursday. | |
| today | This day; the current day. | What are you doing today? | |
| tomorrow | The day after today. | See you tomorrow. | |
| tonight | This evening or night. | Are you free tonight? | |
| Tuesday | The third day of the week. | The meeting is on Tuesday. | |
| twelve | /twɛlv/ | The number 12. | It's twelve o'clock. |
| twelve oh five | /twɛlv oʊ faɪv/ | 12:05 in digital style. | Lunch is at twelve oh five. |
| twenty of (nine) | /ˈtwɛnti ʌv/ | 20 minutes before the next hour (8:40). | It's twenty of nine. |
| twenty-one forty-five | /ˌtwɛnti wʌn ˌfɔːrtiˈfaɪv/ | 9:45 p.m. in 24-hour spoken form. | The flight arrives at twenty-one forty-five. |
| twice a month | Two times per month. | We visit grandma twice a month. | |
| until | Up to a specific time. | The store is open until 9 p.m. | |
| usually | Most of the time. | I usually drink coffee in the morning. | |
| Wednesday | The fourth day of the week. | I work late on Wednesday. | |
| week | A period of seven days. | I exercise three times a week. | |
| weekday | Monday through Friday. | The store is open on weekdays. | |
| weekend | Saturday and Sunday. | I relax on the weekend. | |
| weekly | Every week. | We have a weekly team meeting. | |
| What date is it? | Asks for the calendar date. | What date is it today? | |
| What day is it? | Asks for the day of the week. | What day is it today? | |
| What time are we meeting? | /wʌt taɪm ɑːr wiː ˈmiːtɪŋ/ | Asks about a planned meeting time. | What time are we meeting tomorrow? |
Free How to Tell Time in English Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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