Es un reloj, no una placa.
It's a watch, not a plaque.
People in an office argue over an anniversary gift and settle what it is. Spanish uses reloj for a watch and a clock alike.
From Dr. House · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "watch" in Spanish
el reloj
nounmasculineplural: los relojes
A watch on your wrist is el reloj in Spanish, and a clock on the wall gets the same word. For the verb, "to watch" TV or a movie is ver, and to look at something is mirar: Veo la tele, Mira el reloj.
Hear "reloj" in real scenes
An office gift and a piece of evidence. Each video starts and stops on that line.
El reloj de Lydia Johnson.
Lydia Johnson's watch.
In an investigation, one object left behind can reveal who was there, and de plus a name tells you who owns it.
From CSI: Miami · Spanish audio
Reloj, ver or mirar: which one?
English uses one word for the object and the action. Spanish splits them.
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| el reloj | watch, clock | un reloj antiguo (an old watch) |
| el reloj de pulsera | wristwatch | Used when you need to be precise about the type. |
| ver | to watch (TV, a movie, a game) | Vemos una película. (We're watching a movie.) |
| mirar | to look at, to watch | Mira el reloj. (Look at the watch.) |
| vigilar | to keep an eye on | Vigila la maleta. (Watch the suitcase.) |
| ¡Cuidado! | Watch out! | Shouted as a warning. |
Tip: To ask the time you don't need reloj at all: ¿Qué hora es?
Grammar: el reloj, los relojes
Two points about the noun, two about the verbs.
Masculine, plural with -es
el reloj, un reloj caro, los relojes. Nouns that end in a consonant add -es in the plural.Sounds at both ends
The r is trilled because it starts the word. The final j is a soft throaty h, and in fast speech many people barely say it.Screens and shows: ver
Veo la tele. Vemos el partido. For TV, movies and games, Spanish speakers usually say ver.Looking at something: mirar
Mirar needs no word for "at": Mira el reloj. Look at the watch.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
Es un reloj muy caro, el número dieciséis.
It's a very expensive watch, number sixteen.
Es un reloj antiguo.
It's an old watch.
El reloj dice las tres.
The clock says three o'clock.
La caja tiene un reloj y las mejores gafas del mundo.
The box has a watch and the best glasses in the world.
Veo la tele por la noche.
I watch TV at night.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗una reloj antigua
✓un reloj antiguo
Reloj is masculine, so the article and the adjective take masculine endings.
✗los relojs
✓los relojes
A noun ending in a consonant takes -es in the plural.
✗¡Mira fuera! (Watch out!)
✓¡Cuidado!
The English phrase doesn't translate word for word. To warn someone, shout ¡Cuidado!
Real conversation: the forgotten bag
A short dialog on a café terrace. Tap to listen.
You left your bag on the café terrace, and Andrea, the waitress, calls after you.
¡Oye! ¿Es tu bolso?
Hey! Is this your bag?
¡Sí, muchas gracias!
Yes, thank you so much!
Un reloj, unas gafas, una carta...
A watch, some glasses, a letter...
Your turn to answer
In the app you reply in Spanish for the last line.
Continue the conversation in WordyPractice: 3 quick exercises
Free, and you don't need an account.
1 of 3 · Watch and choose
What do you hear in the video?
The other 25 exercises on this topic are in the app.
How to remember it
Reloj starts like relay. At a relay race, every runner keeps one eye on the reloj.
Questions about "watch" in Spanish
How do you say watch in Spanish?
A wristwatch is el reloj. The verb "to watch" is ver for TV and movies, or mirar when you look at something.
How do you say "watch TV" in Spanish?
Ver la tele, as in Vemos la tele después de cenar. In Argentina and a few other countries you'll also hear mirar la tele.
Is reloj masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el reloj, los relojes. Its adjectives end in -o: un reloj nuevo.
How do you say "watch out" in Spanish?
¡Cuidado! For a calmer warning, say Ten cuidado, be careful.
