How to read 12:50 on an analog clock
At 12:50, the minute hand points at the 10, which represents the 50th minute. The hour hand is between the 12 and the 1, but closer to the 1. This means we are 10 minutes away from one o’clock.
In English, when the minute hand is on the 10, we say phrases like: It’s 10 to 1.
It’s ten to one.
This is a common way of expressing time in spoken English. These expressions sound more natural in everyday conversation.
It’s important to understand that we often refer to the next hour when using “to”, even if the hour hand hasn’t reached it yet.
Example sentences with 12:50
- I always start cooking dinner around it’s ten to one.
- We usually go for a walk around 12:50.
- They left the house at it’s ten to one. to catch the train.
- My alarm goes off at 12:50 every morning.
- Her dance class begins precisely at 12:50.