Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Minutes in Spanish: Minutos
Minutos · noun (masculine plural) · mee-NOO-tohs
The Spanish word for minutes (time) is 'minutos,' the plural of 'minuto.' It functions identically to the English usage for measuring time. However, 'minutes' in the context of meeting notes translates to 'acta' or 'actas,' an entirely different word. The singular 'minuto' can also be used as an exclamation meaning 'just a minute!'
Pronounce it mee-NOO-tohs, with three syllables and stress on the second. The singular 'minuto' is mee-NOO-toh.
El tren sale en quince minutos desde la plataforma tres.
The train leaves in fifteen minutes from platform three.
Minutes in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for minutes, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| minutos | minutes | mee-NOO-tohs | Default, widely understood |
| acta | minutes | used for meeting minutes (official record) |
How Native Speakers Use Minutos
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Cooking
Cocina la pasta durante ocho minutos en agua hirviendo.
Cook the pasta for eight minutes in boiling water.
Following recipe timing instructions.
Running late
Perdón, llego en cinco minutos; el tráfico está horrible.
Sorry, I'll be there in five minutes; the traffic is terrible.
Apologizing for being late.
Meeting notes
La secretaria redactó el acta de la reunión del martes.
The secretary wrote up the minutes of Tuesday's meeting.
Recording official business proceedings.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Minutos
Using minutos for meeting minutes
Incorrect: ¿Puedes enviarme los minutos de la junta?
Correct: ¿Puedes enviarme el acta de la junta?
'Minutos' only refers to units of time; for the record of a meeting, Spanish uses 'acta,' which is a completely different word.
Omitting the article with acta
Incorrect: La acta de la reunión fue aprobada.
Correct: El acta de la reunión fue aprobada.
Like 'arma,' the feminine noun 'acta' takes the masculine singular article 'el' because it begins with a stressed 'a,' but it remains grammatically feminine.
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See Minutos used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Minutes in Spanish
- How do I use minutes when telling time in Spanish?
- When telling time, you say the hour followed by 'y' (and) plus the minutes, such as 'son las tres y veinte' (it is three twenty), or use 'menos' for subtraction, like 'las cuatro menos diez' (ten to four).
- What is the abbreviation for minutes in Spanish?
- The standard abbreviation is 'min.' (with a period), used identically to English in recipes, exercise routines, and scientific writing.
- How do I say 'just a minute' in Spanish?
- The common expressions are '¡Un minuto!' or '¡Un momento!' both serving as polite requests for someone to wait briefly.