13:40 pronunciation

[Rachel Adams]

Native speakers, do you pronounce 13:40 as ''thirteen forty'' or as ''twenty to/of two'' only?

 

[emsr2d2]

It depends on context. In the military, for example, it would be "thirteen forty". If someone in everyday life was simply reading a transport timetable, for example, they're more likely to say either "one forty" or "twenty to two".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I don't know exactly how the military would say it—probably thirteen-forty.

I usually say twenty of two—and if not that, then one-forty. And if the day part needs to be clarified, I add in the afternoon.

Let's see what others say.

(Cross-post.)

 

[Tarheel]

I would say one forty. (I'm not in the habit of saying a quarter till two or some such, but if it's five till the hour I'll say "It's five till two" or "It's almost two.)
,

 

[Rover_KE]

I'll never forget a little four- or five-year-old boy who came up to me one day when I was on playground duty (stop me if I've told you before).

He proudly boasted 'I've got a new watch Mr Rover*'.

'That's nice, Martin', I replied; 'what time is it?'

Peering studiously at the displayed digital time, he slowly read out 'One, four, dot dot, nothing, seven'.

* Not my real name.