Telling time · Five minutes
9:55 on a Clock
Nine fifty-five. The long hand points to 11 and the short hand is between 9 and 10.
9:55
five to ten
How to read 9:55
- The short hour hand is nearly at the 10, but it hasn't reached it, so the hour is still 9.
- The long minute hand points at the 11. Count by 5s from the 12: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55. That's fifty-five minutes past the hour.
Ways to say it
- five to ten
- nine fifty-five
Where children slip
If you mix up the hands, this clock looks like 11:45. The short hand always gives the hour.
The long hand is on the 11, but that means 55 minutes, not 11. The time is 9:55, not 9:11.
The short hand looks close to the 10, so it's tempting to say 10:55. It hasn't reached the 10 yet, so the hour is still 9.
Morning or afternoon?
A clock with hands looks the same twice a day. 9:55 a.m. is the morning. 9:55 p.m. is night time. There's more in the guide to a.m. and p.m.
Play with 9:55
Every question in this game has this time in it, as the answer or as one of the choices.
9:55 comes up in every question
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
Keep going
9:55 questions
What does 9:55 look like on a clock?
The long hand points to 11 and the short hand is between 9 and 10.
How do you say 9:55?
Most people say five to ten. You'll also hear nine fifty-five.
Is the telling time game really free?
Yes. The whole game plays free in your browser, with no signup, no ads and no time limit. An iPhone app is on the way with offline play, a forest trail and a parent view, but the web game stays free.
Coming soon to iPhone
We're building a Clockwood app with what needs a real app: every time read aloud, offline play, and a parent view of which times have stuck and which are still tricky. The full game stays free here on the web.
Coming soon on theApp Store