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Spanish Phrase

¿Para qué hora y cuántas personas?

/paˈɾa ˈke ˈoɾa i ˈkwan.tas perˈso.nas/
Meaning"For what time and how many people?"
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Meaning

This question asks for two pieces of information at once: the exact time something is scheduled for and the number of people involved. It is commonly used when making reservations or planning events.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you need to confirm the time and the headcount for a reservation, a meeting, a party, or any activity that requires both details. It is especially handy in restaurants, hotels, and event planning contexts.

✦Grammar Breakdown

¿Paraquéhoraycuántaspersonas?

1

Para (preposition)

‘Para’ introduces the purpose or destination, here meaning ‘for’ in the sense of ‘for what time’.

2

Qué hora

‘Qué’ is an interrogative pronoun; combined with ‘hora’ it forms the set phrase ‘qué hora’ = ‘what time’.

3

Cuántas personas

‘Cuántas’ is the feminine plural form of the interrogative adjective ‘cuánto/a(s)’, matching the noun ‘personas’.

4

Y (conjunction)

The conjunction ‘y’ links two related questions into one smooth query.

🗨In Conversation

A

¿Para qué hora y cuántas personas?

For what time and how many people?

Para las ocho y cuatro personas.

For eight o’clock and four people.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • ¿Para que hora y cuántas personas?

    Missing the accent on ‘qué’; without it, ‘que’ is a conjunction, not an interrogative.

  • ¿Para qué hora y cuantos personas?

    ‘Personas’ is feminine plural, so the interrogative must be ‘cuántas’, not ‘cuántos’.

  • ¿Para qué hora y cuántas persona?

    The noun must be plural ‘personas’ to agree with ‘cuántas’.

↔Alternatives

  • ¿A qué hora y cuántas personas?

    At what time and how many people?

  • ¿A qué hora será la reserva y cuántas personas asistirán?

    What time will the reservation be and how many people will attend?

  • ¿Cuál es la hora y cuántas personas?

    What is the time and how many people?

es

Cultural Tip

In many Spanish‑speaking countries, it is customary to ask both the time and the number of guests when booking a table. While ‘para qué hora’ is perfectly correct, many locals prefer the shorter ‘¿A qué hora…?’ especially in informal settings. Remember to match gender and number: ‘cuántas personas’, not *‘cuantos personas’*.