Spanish Phrase
Dime a qué hora te viene bien.
Meaning
This phrase is a polite and common way to ask someone what time is convenient for them. It literally translates to 'Tell me at what hour it comes well to you,' but its idiomatic meaning is 'Tell me what time works for you' or 'Tell me what time is good for you.' It's used when you need to schedule something and want the other person to choose the most suitable time.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are trying to arrange a meeting, a call, or any activity with someone and you want to give them the flexibility to choose a time that is convenient for them. It's a versatile expression for scheduling and showing consideration for the other person's availability.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dimea qué horateviene bien
Dime (Decir)
'Dime' is the informal imperative form of the verb 'decir' (to say/tell), combined with the indirect object pronoun 'me' (to me). It means 'Tell me'.
a qué hora
This is a common interrogative phrase meaning 'at what time'. The preposition 'a' is crucial here, indicating the specific point in time.
te (Indirect Object Pronoun)
'Te' is the indirect object pronoun meaning 'to you' (informal singular). It indicates who the time is convenient for.
viene bien (Venir bien)
'Venir bien' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to suit', 'to be convenient', or 'to work out well'. It's often used impersonally or with an indirect object pronoun like 'te'.
🗨In Conversation
Necesito hablar contigo sobre el proyecto. Dime a qué hora te viene bien.
I need to talk to you about the project. Tell me what time works for you.
Mañana por la tarde, ¿te parece bien a las 3?
Tomorrow afternoon, does 3 o'clock sound good to you?
✕Common Mistakes
Dime a qué hora es bueno para ti.
While understandable, 'es bueno para ti' is a more literal and less natural translation. 'Te viene bien' is the idiomatic and preferred expression for 'suits you' or 'works for you' in Spanish.
Dime qué hora te viene bien.
Omitting 'a' before 'qué hora' is a common mistake. The preposition 'a' is necessary here because 'hora' is the object of the verb 'venir' in the context of 'at what time'.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué hora te viene mejor?
What time suits you best?
¿Cuándo te viene bien?
When does it suit you?
¿A qué hora te va bien?
What time works for you?
¿Qué día y hora te quedan bien?
What day and time are good for you?
Cultural Tip
In Spanish-speaking cultures, it's common to be flexible with scheduling, and this phrase reflects that. It's polite to offer options or ask the other person for their preferred time, especially in social contexts or when dealing with someone you don't know very well. Being too direct with a specific time without asking for their availability first might sometimes be perceived as less considerate, though context always matters.