This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

"faltan cinco para las menos cuarto"

English translation: it's five minutes till quarter to

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:"faltan cinco para las menos cuarto"
English translation:it's five minutes till quarter to
Entered by: Marcelo González

17:18 Jan 26, 2006
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Spanish term or phrase: "faltan cinco para las menos cuarto"
Context:

Una persona se tiene que encontrar con la otra a las cinco menos cuarto. "It's twenty to four" sería una linda forma de salir del paso. Pero si quiero mencionar el "menos cuarto", ¿cómo sería? No logro pensar una frase que suene correcta en inglés...
THX!

THX!
Alejandra Tolj
Local time: 09:55
(a) quarter to four
Explanation:
Judging from your description (below), this might be what you meant...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2006-01-26 17:28:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Es decir, cuando usted dice, "una persona...con la otra **a las cinco menos cuarto**"

Suerte, AleTolj!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-26 18:28:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Excuse me: As Maria Teresa points out below, that would be "a quarter to FIVE" (not "four") :-)

las cinco menos cuarto = (a) quarter to five

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-26 18:43:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Given the latest comments/explanations, I'd say "It's five minutes till quarter to" (without mentioning five)

faltan cinco para las menos cuarto = five minutes till quarter to

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2006-01-26 22:56:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hola AleTolj,

How about this: "It's/there's (only) five minutes till quarter to [the agreed upon time]" (this use of "it's" is very colloquial, but used quite a bit, especially among certain groups, here in the US)

I agree with Sarah: You wouldn't say "it's five to a quarter to," but "it's five minutes till," YES, e.g., "it's/there's only 10 minutes till the movie starts. Let's get going."

GRAMMAR: There is vs. There are
In the US, there are many instances in which the rules of (prescriptive) grammar require the use of "there are," but people (choose to) use "there is"; this is one of those instances, e.g., "There's only five minutes till lunch. Can we leave?" (asks the low achieving student, who's already closed his book). :-)
Selected response from:

Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 02:55
Grading comment
Thank you all! I'll choose "It's five minutes till quarter to" because I need to mention the "quarter to".

Thank you all again for your help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2(Only) five minutes (to go) till its a quarter to five
William Pairman
5 +1a twenty to (see below for clarification)
Sarah McGrane Gonzalez
4 +2five minutes before a quarter to five
tristar
3 +1four forty-five 4:45
Elizabeth Lyons
3(a) quarter to four
Marcelo González


Discussion entries: 10





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
four forty-five 4:45


Explanation:
If this is what you are asking, given Henry's note and your original question, I am not so sure!

Elizabeth Lyons
United States
Local time: 05:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marcelo González: Elizabeth, given the fact it actually refers to a time 5 minutes before a quarter to five, it would appear this agree might not be all that warranted. (I've since changed my answer, as well.) I'm sure you understand if I remove my agree. Regards & thanks
1 hr
  -> Yes, a quarter to five is also correct - many thanks! : ))
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a twenty to (see below for clarification)


Explanation:
My understanding is that you want to say twenty to but mentioning the quarter to.
Here if it is 1 or 2 mins before quarter to I'd say "it's two minutes to quarter to". But to be honest if it was five minutes to quarter to I'd just say it's twenty to. Hope that makes sense.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2006-01-26 17:40:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You just wouldn't say it's five minutes to quarter to

Sarah McGrane Gonzalez
Local time: 13:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  María Teresa Taylor Oliver: Indeed. It would to a very convoluted way of saying that! The simpler phrase "a twenty to" is enough.
34 mins
  -> Glad you agree. Thanks Maria Teresa
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
five minutes before a quarter to five


Explanation:
.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-26 18:24:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Now it's five minutes before a quarter to five"
or alternatively
"In five more minutes it'll be a quarter to five"

tristar
Local time: 15:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in HebrewHebrew

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ana Brassara
55 mins
agree  Mariela Malanij
2 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(Only) five minutes (to go) till its a quarter to five


Explanation:
I dont see the problem others are having, your explanation seem perfectly traighforward to me. Two people are looking at the time, saying "only five minutes till..."

Funnily enough, my first thought context wise was "Someone's waiting to finish work" - I've always been a clock watcher :o)

Oh, if you want US English, it'd be "a quarter BEFORE five

¡Suerte!

William Pairman
Spain
Local time: 14:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mariela Malanij: I'd simply say: "only five minutes (to go) till a quarter to five."
38 mins
agree  EirTranslations
19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
las cinco menos cuarto
(a) quarter to four


Explanation:
Judging from your description (below), this might be what you meant...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2006-01-26 17:28:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Es decir, cuando usted dice, "una persona...con la otra **a las cinco menos cuarto**"

Suerte, AleTolj!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-26 18:28:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Excuse me: As Maria Teresa points out below, that would be "a quarter to FIVE" (not "four") :-)

las cinco menos cuarto = (a) quarter to five

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-01-26 18:43:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Given the latest comments/explanations, I'd say "It's five minutes till quarter to" (without mentioning five)

faltan cinco para las menos cuarto = five minutes till quarter to

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2006-01-26 22:56:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hola AleTolj,

How about this: "It's/there's (only) five minutes till quarter to [the agreed upon time]" (this use of "it's" is very colloquial, but used quite a bit, especially among certain groups, here in the US)

I agree with Sarah: You wouldn't say "it's five to a quarter to," but "it's five minutes till," YES, e.g., "it's/there's only 10 minutes till the movie starts. Let's get going."

GRAMMAR: There is vs. There are
In the US, there are many instances in which the rules of (prescriptive) grammar require the use of "there are," but people (choose to) use "there is"; this is one of those instances, e.g., "There's only five minutes till lunch. Can we leave?" (asks the low achieving student, who's already closed his book). :-)

Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 02:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 132
Grading comment
Thank you all! I'll choose "It's five minutes till quarter to" because I need to mention the "quarter to".

Thank you all again for your help.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Noelia Ruiz Pérez
10 mins
  -> thanks, 123translate!
disagree  María Teresa Taylor Oliver: Perdón... "Cinco menos cuarto" es "a quarter to FIVE".
47 mins
  -> Maria Teresa, I'd appreciate it if you could take a look at my latest note. Thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search