Spanish Phrase
¿Te pones una alarma?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether the listener sets an alarm, usually to wake up or remind themselves of something. It can refer to a phone alarm, a bedside clock, or any device that alerts you at a set time.
When to use
Use this question when talking about daily routines, reminding a friend to set an alarm before a trip, or checking if someone will be on time for an early appointment.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Teponesunaalarma?
Reflexive pronoun "te"
The pronoun "te" indicates that the subject (you) is both performing and receiving the action of the verb.
Verb "ponerse" (present)
"Ponerse" is a reflexive verb meaning “to put on” or “to set”. In the present indicative, the second‑person singular form is "pones".
Indefinite article "una"
"Una" is the feminine singular indefinite article, used here because "alarma" is a feminine noun.
Question marks
Spanish uses an opening (¿) and closing (?) question mark for all interrogative sentences.
🗨In Conversation
¿Te pones una alarma?
Do you set an alarm?
Sí, siempre la pongo a las seis de la mañana.
Yes, I always set it for six in the morning.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Pones una alarma?
Missing the reflexive pronoun; "pones" alone asks "Do you set..." but loses the nuance of the action being done to yourself.
¿Te pones una alarmas?
Incorrect article‑noun agreement; "alarma" is singular feminine, so the article must be "una".
Te pones una alarma?
Leaving out the opening question mark makes the sentence look like a statement rather than a question.
↔Alternatives
¿Pones una alarma?
Do you set an alarm?
¿Te pones la alarma?
Do you set the alarm?
¿Vas a poner una alarma?
Are you going to set an alarm?
¿Te pones una alarma para despertarte?
Do you set an alarm to wake up?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, setting an alarm is a common part of the morning routine, especially for school or work. The reflexive form "ponerse una alarma" is idiomatic and sounds natural in casual conversation. If you’re referring to a specific alarm (e.g., the one on your phone), you can use the definite article: "¿Te pones la alarma?"