Y Cuarto

Real World Example

The Spanish phrase "y cuarto" literally translates to "and a quarter" in English. It's often used when telling time, like saying "son las tres y cuarto" for "it's a quarter past three." To help remember this, think of your friend who’s always 15 minutes late to everything: let's call them "Courtney." Every time you hear "y cuarto," picture Courtney showing up fashionably late, exactly 15 minutes after the hour. So, when you’re telling time in Spanish, just imagine you're waiting for Courtney to arrive, and if it’s "y cuarto," she’s just walked in the door, 15 minutes past the hour. ⏰