Portuguese Phrase
A escola acaba a que horas?
Meaning
This question asks for the exact time when school finishes for the day. It is a direct way to inquire about the schedule, especially when you need to plan something after class.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re talking to classmates, teachers, or school staff and need to know the end‑time of the school day or a particular class.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aescolaacabaaquehoras?
Definite article (A)
The feminine singular article 'a' matches the noun 'escola' (school).
Verb acabar (to finish)
Acabar is a regular -ar verb meaning 'to finish' or 'to end'. In the present indicative it conjugates as 'acaba' for third‑person singular.
Preposition a (at)
When asking about a specific time, Portuguese uses the preposition 'a' before the time expression.
Question phrase 'a que horas'
Literally 'at what hours', this is the standard way to ask 'what time?' for events that happen at a point in time.
🗨In Conversation
A escola acaba a que horas?
What time does school end?
Acaba às duas da tarde.
It ends at two p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
A escola acaba quando?
‘Quando’ asks for a date or a general moment, not a precise clock time. Use ‘a que horas’ for clock‑time questions.
A escola acaba às que horas?
The article ‘às’ already means ‘at the’, so you cannot add ‘que’ after it.
A escola acaba a que hora?
‘Hora’ is singular; the idiomatic expression is ‘a que horas’ (plural) even when you expect a single time.
↔Alternatives
A que horas termina a escola?
At what time does the school finish?
Quando a escola acaba?
When does school finish?
A escola fecha a que horas?
At what time does the school close?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil most public schools finish around 12 pm for a single‑shift system, while private schools often run a double‑shift and may end as late as 5 pm. In Portugal the typical school day ends between 3 pm and 4 pm. Knowing the local schedule helps you choose the most natural alternative (e.g., 'fecha' is more common for institutions that 'close' rather than 'finish').