Spanish Phrase
El show empieza a las ocho.
Meaning
The sentence means “The show starts at eight o’clock.” It tells the scheduled start time of a performance, TV program, concert, or any event referred to as a “show.”
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inform someone about the exact start time of a show, whether it’s a TV series, a live concert, a theater performance, or a streaming event.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elshowempiezaalasocho
Definite article (El)
El is the masculine singular definite article used before a masculine noun or a masculine‑gendered loanword.
Loanword (show)
Show is an English loanword that keeps its original spelling; in Spanish it behaves like a masculine noun.
Verb (empieza)
Empieza is the 3rd‑person singular present of empezar ‘to start, to begin’.
Time preposition (a las)
When telling the hour, use the preposition a + article las (or la for 1 o’clock) before the number.
Hour (ocho)
Ocho means ‘eight’; combined with las it forms the expression las ocho (8:00).
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora empieza el show?
What time does the show start?
El show empieza a las ocho.
The show starts at eight o’clock.
✕Common Mistakes
El show empieza a ocho.
The article ‘las’ is required when you say the hour (except for 1 o’clock, which uses ‘la’).
El show empieza en las ocho.
The preposition for time is ‘a’, not ‘en’. ‘En’ would mean ‘in’ a location.
El show empieza a la ocho.
‘La’ is only used for 1 o’clock; for 8 you need ‘las’.
↔Alternatives
El espectáculo comienza a las ocho.
The spectacle begins at eight.
El programa inicia a las ocho.
The program starts at eight.
El show arranca a las ocho.
The show kicks off at eight.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries the 24‑hour clock is used in written schedules, but in everyday speech people say a las ocho for both 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.; context tells you which one. If you need to be crystal‑clear, add “de la mañana” (in the morning) or “de la noche” (in the evening).