hora
Lemma Details
Translation: hour; time; o'clock
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'hora', which came from Greek 'ὥρα' (hṓra), meaning 'time' or 'season'. The English word 'hour' shares this same Latin root, making them cognates. The concept of dividing the day into hours originated in ancient civilizations, with the Romans standardizing the 12-hour system that influenced Spanish timekeeping traditions.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of an 'hourglass' to remember 'hora' means 'hour'
- The word 'hora' sounds like the beginning of 'horary' (relating to hours) in English
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, time is often perceived more flexibly than in some English-speaking cultures. The phrase 'la hora española' (Spanish time) refers to the cultural tendency to be less strict about punctuality. Additionally, Spain has a unique daily schedule with later meal times and the concept of 'siesta' affecting how hours of the day are utilized.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Hora' means 'hour' or 'time', while 'ahora' means 'now'. They look and sound similar but have different meanings and uses.
Confused word:
Ahora no puedo hablar.
I can't talk now.
Notes: The confusion often happens because 'ahora' contains the word 'hora' within it, but they function differently in sentences.
Mnemonic: Think of 'ahora' as 'a + hora' meaning 'at this hour' = 'now'
Explanation: 'Hora' means 'hour' or 'time', while 'oro' means 'gold'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
This word:
Espera una hora más.
Wait one more hour.
Confused word:
Este anillo es de oro.
This ring is made of gold.
Notes: These words might be confused by beginners due to their similar appearance, but their pronunciation is distinct.
Mnemonic: Remember 'oro' by thinking of the English word 'or' with an 'o' at the end, and gold is often an OR-ange color.