English word time corresponds to two Spanish: tiempo and hora.
In general, the word hora corresponds to a part of the day, and the word tiempo, to a large interval.
To know at what part of the day we are, we ask:
¿Qué hora es? – What’s the time?
¿Tienes hora? – Can you tell me what time it is?
The word hora also refers to a time zone, the time in different countries of the world:
Te voy a llamar mañana a las 10 hora de España, que son las 11 en Israel –
I’m going to call you tomorrow at 10 Spain time, which is 11 in Israel
To indicate that this is an appropriate moment to do something, we say:
Es hora de dormir – It's time to sleep
– ¿Cuándo empieza esta clase? – When does this class start?
– Pues ya es la hora – Well, it’s high time
However, to say the opposite, that this is not the best time, we use the word momento:
No es un buen momento para dormir –
It’s not a good time to sleep
A la hora de + infinitivo also indicates a certain part of the day:
Te voy a llamar a la hora de comer = Te voy a llamar entre las 2 y las 3 de la tarde – I’m going to call you at lunch time
There are a lot of expressions with the word hora which indicate different parts of the day:
A primera hora –
Early / Between 9 and 11 approximatelyA la hora del café –
At coffee time / At 11 a.m.A última hora –
At the last minute / At the last momentA altas horas – Very late, after 11 p.m.
Finally, pedir hora means appoint time and day for a service (doctor, hairdresser, etc.):
– ¡Me duele mucho una muela! – I have a sharp toothache!
– Tienes que pedir hora con un dentista – You have to make an appointment with a dentist
The word tiempo is an important notion which refers to the past, the present and the future:
El tiempo no perdona – Time shows no mercy / We all grow old
¡Cómo pasa el tiempo! – How time flies! /Time passes very fast
¡Cuánto tiempo! –
It has been a long time! / It’s been months or years since we last saw each other
The expression en tiempo de is equal to "in the time/season of":
En tiempo de lluvias –
During the rainy season / In the rainy season
With the verb tener the word tiempo means free time:
– ¿Quedamos hoy? – Let’s meet up today?
– Perfecto, hoy tengo tiempo – Perfect, today I have free timeEsta semana no tengo tiempo para mis cosas – This week I'm very busy, I don’t have time for myself
The expression hace tiempo is equal to hace mucho tiempo and means "many months or years ago":
– ¿Cuándo estuviste en Berlín? – When were you in Berlin?
– Hace tiempo ya, hace dos o tres años – Some time ago, two or three years ago
Besides, the word tiempo can mean "weather", i.e. cold or hot, rain or sun...
– ¿Qué tiempo hace? – What’s the weather like?
– Hoy hace frío – Today it's cold