Spanish Phrase
¿A qué hora es la feria del cole?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the specific time when the school fair will take place. It uses the informal term 'cole' and the verb 'es' to refer to the scheduled hour of the event.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know the start time of a school fair, especially in casual conversation with classmates, parents, or teachers. It’s appropriate in informal settings; in formal contexts you might say '¿A qué hora comienza la feria del colegio?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Aquéhoraeslaferiadelcole?
¿A qué hora?
Standard interrogative phrase to ask for the time of an event; 'a' is a preposition, 'qué' is the interrogative pronoun, and 'hora' means 'hour/time'.
Ser for scheduled events
The verb 'ser' (es) is used to indicate the scheduled time of an event, similar to English 'is at'.
del = de + el
The contraction 'del' combines the preposition 'de' (of) with the definite article 'el' (the).
cole (colloquial)
'Cole' is an informal shortening of 'colegio' (school) commonly used in casual speech.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora es la feria del cole?
What time is the school fair?
Es a las tres de la tarde.
It’s at three in the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Qué hora es la feria del cole?
The correct order is '¿A qué hora es...?' because 'a' introduces the time reference.
¿A qué hora son la feria del cole?
Use 'es' (singular) because 'feria' is singular; 'son' would be incorrect.
¿A qué hora es la feria del colegio?
If you want the informal tone, use 'cole'; 'colegio' sounds more formal.
¿A que hora es la feria del cole?
Remember the accent on 'qué' in interrogatives.
↔Alternatives
¿A qué hora comienza la feria del cole?
What time does the school fair start?
¿A qué hora se celebra la feria del colegio?
At what time is the school fair held?
¿Cuándo es la feria del cole?
When is the school fair?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, the 'feria del cole' is an annual event full of games, food stalls, and student performances. The term 'cole' is regional slang, especially common in Spain and parts of Latin America. When answering, Spaniards typically give the hour with the preposition 'a las' (e.g., 'a las cuatro') and may add 'de la tarde' or 'de la mañana' for clarity.