Why Do We Need A.M. and P.M.?
Imagine you tell your friend, “Let’s meet at 6 o’clock.”
Your friend might ask, “Do you mean 6 in the morning or 6 in the evening?”
That’s exactly why we use A.M. and P.M. – to avoid confusion!
These two little words help us know if a time is before noon or after noon.
Example:
6:00 A.M. – Early morning, maybe for jogging.
6:00 P.M. – Evening, maybe for playing outside after school.
What Do A.M. and P.M. Mean?
These are short forms from Latin, an old language:
A.M. – “Ante Meridiem” = “Before Midday” (before 12 noon)
P.M. – “Post Meridiem” = “After Midday” (after 12 noon)
So:
A.M. = From midnight (12:00 at night) to just before 12:00 noon.
P.M. = From 12:00 noon to just before midnight.
Understanding the 24 Hours in a Day
A full day has 24 hours.
But our clocks usually show 12 hours and then repeat.
Here’s how it works:
24-Hour Clock | 12-Hour Clock | A.M./P.M. | What Time of Day?
00:00 | 12:00 | A.M. | Midnight
06:00 | 6:00 | A.M. | Morning
12:00 | 12:00 | P.M. | Noon
15:00 | 3:00 | P.M. | Afternoon
20:00 | 8:00 | P.M. | Evening
23:59 | 11:59 | P.M. | Late Night
The A.M. Hours (Morning Time)
A.M. hours start at midnight (12:00 A.M.) and go until just before noon (11:59 A.M.).
We can break them down:
Midnight to 6:00 A.M. – Late night/early morning
Most people are sleeping.
Example: Bakers start making bread at 4:00 A.M.
6:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. – Morning starts
People wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast.
Example: School buses pick up children around 7:30 A.M.
9:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon – Late morning
Schools are in full swing, offices are busy.
Example: A cricket match can start at 10:00 A.M.
The P.M. Hours (Afternoon & Evening)
P.M. hours start at noon (12:00 P.M.) and go until just before midnight (11:59 P.M.).
We can break them down:
12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. – Afternoon starts
Lunch time, work, and study continue.
Example: Lunch break in school is usually around 1:00 P.M.
3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. – Late afternoon/early evening
Children return from school, outdoor games start.
Example: Many markets open at 4:00 P.M.
6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. – Evening
Dinner, television, family time.
Example: Many families have dinner at 8:00 P.M.
9:00 P.M. to midnight – Late night
Bedtime for most people.
Example: Some trains leave at 11:30 P.M.
Special Times to Remember
Some hours can be confusing:
12:00 A.M. = Midnight (start of the day)
Example: If a movie is released at 12:00 A.M., it means at night, not noon.
12:00 P.M. = Noon (middle of the day)
Example: If the school break starts at 12:00 P.M., it means in the middle of the day.
Why Not Just Use 24-Hour Time?
Some countries use 24-hour clock to avoid A.M./P.M. confusion.
Example:
6:00 A.M. β 06:00
6:00 P.M. β 18:00
But in daily life, especially in English-speaking countries, A.M. and P.M. are still very common.
Fun Examples of A.M. and P.M.
Here’s a day in Ria’s life:
6:30 A.M. – Ria
