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Spanish Phrase

¿A qué hora empieza?

/a ke ˈoɾa esˈpje.sa/
Meaning"What time does it start?"
💡

Meaning

The question asks for the exact time something will begin. It can refer to a class, a movie, a meeting, or any scheduled event. The structure is formal but also common in everyday conversation.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you need to know the start time of an activity, especially when the schedule isn’t posted or you’re confirming details with a friend, teacher, or colleague.

✦Grammar Breakdown

¿Aquéhoraempieza?

1

Inverted question marks

Spanish uses both opening (¿) and closing (?) question marks; never omit the opening one.

2

Qué vs. Cuándo

"Qué hora" asks for the exact clock time, while "cuándo" asks for a more general time reference.

3

Verb conjugation

"Empieza" is the third‑person singular present of "empezar" and matches an implied subject like "la clase" or "la película".

4

Preposition "a"

The preposition "a" introduces the time expression, similar to English "at".

🗨In Conversation

A

¿A qué hora empieza la película?

What time does the movie start?

Empieza a las ocho y media.

It starts at eight thirty.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • ¿A qué hora empieza el?

    The article "el" is unnecessary because "empieza" already refers to the event; you would specify the event (e.g., "la película") after the verb.

  • ¿A qué hora empieza tú?

    Use the third‑person form "empieza" for events; if you’re asking a person, use "¿A qué hora llegas?" or "¿A qué hora empiezas?"

  • A qué hora empieza?

    Missing the opening inverted question mark is a common typo; Spanish always requires both opening (¿) and closing (?) marks.

↔Alternatives

  • ¿A qué hora da comienzo?

    At what time does it begin?

  • ¿A qué hora inicia?

    When does it start?

  • ¿Cuándo empieza?

    When does it start?

es

Cultural Tip

In many Spanish‑speaking countries, punctuality is valued, but it’s common to ask for the exact start time before committing. The phrase uses the interrogative "qué hora" (what time) followed by the verb "empezar" in the third‑person singular, which matches the implied subject (the event). In informal settings you might drop the accent on "qué" in quick speech, but keep it in writing.