Proper translation

Question

I got this incorrect:
Translate: It is ten to nine. My answer: Son las diez meno nueve. Correct Answer: Son las nueve diez.  Isn't that 9:10, rather than what the question is asking

John O'Leary · Accepted Answer

Hola Miles, 
In Spanish menos = minus i.e. before the hour, and "y" = and i.e. after the hour.  Therefore, "Son las diez menos diez" is literally "ten (diez) minus ten (diez); therefore ten to ten." 
So ten to nine would be "Son las nueve menos diez," literally 9 (nueve) minus 10 (diez). 
Your phrase "Son las nueve diez" is missing a "y" and should read "Son las nueve y diez." As such it translates as "it is nine and ten" or ten past nine. 
 
Does that help? John