Spanish Phrase
¿A qué hora termina el cole?
Meaning
Literally, 'At what time does the school finish?' It is the everyday way for a student or parent to ask when the school day ends.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation with classmates, friends, or family when you need to know the end‑time of the school day, a class, or a tutoring session.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Aquéhoraterminaelcole?
¿A qué hora?
The fixed phrase '¿A qué hora?' is used to ask about the time something happens; it combines the preposition 'a' with the interrogative pronoun 'qué' and the noun 'hora'.
termina
Third‑person singular present of the regular verb 'terminar' (to finish/end). It agrees with the singular subject 'el cole'.
el cole
Colloquial abbreviation of 'el colegio' (school). Common in informal speech among students and friends.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora termina el cole?
What time does school end?
Termina a las tres de la tarde.
It ends at three in the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
¿A que hora termina el cole?
The interrogative 'qué' always carries an accent in questions; without it the meaning changes.
¿A qué hora terminar el cole?
Do not use the infinitive 'terminar' after the subject; you need the conjugated form.
¿A qué hora termina el cole?
In formal contexts replace the slang 'cole' with 'colegio' or 'escuela'.
↔Alternatives
¿A qué hora acaba la escuela?
What time does school finish?
¿A qué hora finaliza el colegio?
At what time does the school finish?
¿A qué hora sale el cole?
What time does school let out?
Cultural Tip
In most of Spain and many Latin‑American countries, 'cole' is a friendly, informal way to refer to 'colegio'. It is perfectly fine among peers, but in formal settings (e.g., talking to a teacher or writing an email) you should use 'colegio' or 'escuela'. Also, note that school schedules vary widely: some schools finish at 2 p.m., others at 4 p.m., so always confirm the exact hour.