AM and PM Explained: Is Noon 12 AM or 12 PM?
AM stands for ante meridiem, Latin for before midday, and PM stands for post meridiem, after midday.
The confusing hours
Noon is 12 pm, because it is the first moment after the meridian. Midnight is 12 am, the start of the new day. To avoid confusion, many people write noon and midnight in full, or use the 24-hour clock.
Frequently asked questions
What is 12:30 am?
12:30 am is half an hour after midnight, written 00:30 on the 24-hour clock.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.