How to say 'at what time' in Spanish – speaking practice guide for English speakers
To say "at what time" in Spanish you use «¿A qué hora…?» followed by the verb: ¿A qué hora sale el tren? (At what time does the train leave?), ¿A qué hora nos vemos? (At what time do we meet?). Practice the phrase out loud, hear the correction inside a Langel's reply, and repeat it in short daily sessions until it comes automatically.
The core structure is always a qué hora + verb. The preposition a is required — ¿Qué hora…? alone means "What time is it?" not "At what time…?" Common verbs you'll pair with it: sale (leaves), empieza (starts), termina (ends), llega (arrives), abre (opens), cierra (closes), nos vemos (we meet), quedas (you stay/agree to meet).
Regional note: in most of Spain and Latin America the form is identical. You may hear ¿A qué hora es…? for events (¿A qué hora es la fiesta?), but with movement or scheduled verbs the conjugated verb follows directly: ¿A qué hora sale?, ¿A qué hora empieza?.
Politeness works the same way as any question: prepend Disculpe or Perdón — Disculpe, ¿a qué hora sale el autobús? — or use the conditional ¿Me podría decir a qué hora…? for extra courtesy.
Answering uses a las + hour (plural) or a la + hour (singular for one o'clock): A las tres, A la una, A las cuatro y media, A las diez menos cuarto. If the event has already been mentioned, you can reply with just the time: —¿A qué hora? —A las seis.
Practice routine (five minutes)
- Warm‑up (30 seconds) – Say «¿A qué hora…?» three times, changing the verb each time: sale, empieza, termina, llega.
- Mini‑dialogue (2 minutes) – Imagine you're at a station. Ask «¿A qué hora sale el tren?» and answer yourself: «Sale a las siete y veinte.» Switch roles: you answer, then ask.
- Variation drill (1 minute) – Swap the verb for abre, cierra, nos vemos, quedamos. Say the full question each time.
- Polite layer (30 seconds) – Add Disculpe or Perdón at the start. Notice the rhythm doesn't change.
- Wrap‑up (30 seconds) – Ask one last «¿A qué hora…?» with a verb you'll actually use today. Say the answer out loud.
With a Langel
You: ¿A qué hora sale el autobús? Langel: Sale a las ocho y cuarto. ¿Necesitas saber a qué hora llega? You: Sí, ¿a qué hora llega? Langel: Llega a las nueve y media. ¿Quieres que te lo repita más despacio? You: Más despacio, por favor. Langel: Claro. Sale a las ocho y cuarto. Llega a las nueve y media. ¿Te sirve? You: Perfecto, gracias.
Frequently asked questions
Is it «¿A qué hora…» or «¿Qué hora…» for "at what time"?
Use «¿A qué hora…?» with a verb to ask when something happens. ¿Qué hora es? alone means "What time is it right now?"
Do I always need the preposition a?
Yes. ¿A qué hora sale? — the a marks "at." Dropping it (¿Qué hora sale?) sounds incomplete to a native ear.
How do I answer «¿A qué hora…?»?
With a las + hour (plural) or a la + hour (singular for one o'clock): A las tres, A la una, A las cuatro y media.
Can I use it for recurring events?
Absolutely. ¿A qué hora empezáis los lunes? works for habits and schedules. The verb just matches the subject.
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