Each hour (hora) of the day comprises sixty minutes, known in Spanish as minutos (singular: minuto). The term is derived from late Latin minutum, signifying a particle, and represents the neuter noun form of the adjective minutus.
Latin American Pronunciation
European Spanish Pronunciation
Minuto is a masculine noun, so it takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- el minuto = the minute
- los minutos = the minutes
- un minuto = a minute
- unos minutos = (some) minutes
Una hora tiene sesenta minutos.
One hour has sixty minutes.
Se tarda un minuto en correr por la pista.
It takes a minute to run around the track.
Similar to English, the Spanish word minuto also carries the figurative meaning of “a very short period of time” that may be longer or shorter than 60 seconds. In this context, it can be translated as minute, moment, second, or instant.
¿Tienes un minuto?
Do you have a minute / second?
Here are a few of the most common expressions in Spanish that contain the word minuto, used predominantly in its figurative sense.
- al minuto = immediately / a moment later
- en un minuto = in a minute
- en el último minuto = at the last minute
- tomarse un minuto = to take a minute
- en cuestión de minutos = within minutes
- minuto a minuto = minute-by-minute
- tener un minuto = to have a moment
- un minuto de silencio = a minute of silence
In Spanish, the word momento (moment) is often preferred to minuto when the meaning is figurative. For example, the common exclamation Wait a minute! is usually expressed as ¡Un momento! in Spanish.
In English, the plural minutes refers to the written records of a meeting. In Spanish, you can use the feminine form of minuto, which is minuta.
Esta es la minuta de la reunión.
These are the minutes of the meeting.
Idiomatic expressions featuring “minuto”
Un minuto en los labios, para siempre en las caderas
English meaning: a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips
Literal translation: a minute on the lips, forever on the hips
Tengo los minutos contados
English meaning: I have no time to spare
Literal translation: I have the minutes counted
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