Spanish Phrase
Tu cita es a las 3 de la tarde.
Meaning
This sentence tells someone that their appointment is scheduled for three o'clock in the afternoon. It is a straightforward way to confirm a time slot.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are confirming, reminding, or informing someone about the exact time of a meeting, doctor's visit, or any scheduled event that occurs in the afternoon.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tucitaesalas3delatarde
Possessive adjective (Tu)
Use 'tu' (without accent) to indicate ownership; 'tú' with accent means 'you' as a subject pronoun.
Noun (cita)
Cita means 'appointment' or 'date' and is feminine, so it takes the article 'la' when needed.
Ser for time (es)
Use the verb 'ser' to tell the time or schedule; 'es' links the subject to a specific time.
Preposition for clock time (a las)
The construction 'a las' + hour is used to say 'at' a specific hour; note the plural article 'las' for hours other than 1.
Part of day (de la tarde)
Indicates the period of the day; 'de la tarde' covers roughly noon to sunset.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora es tu cita?
What time is your appointment?
Mi cita es a las 3 de la tarde.
My appointment is at three in the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
Tú cita es a las 3 de la tarde.
Use the possessive adjective 'tu' (no accent) for 'your'; 'tú' means 'you' as a subject pronoun.
Tu cita está a las 3 de la tarde.
When telling time, use 'ser' (es) not 'estar' (está).
Tu cita es a las 3 pm.
Mixing English abbreviations with Spanish is unnatural; use 'de la tarde' or 'p.m.' consistently.
↔Alternatives
Tu reunión es a las 3 de la tarde.
Your meeting is at 3 in the afternoon.
Tu consulta es a las 3 p.m.
Your consultation is at 3 p.m.
Tienes una cita a las tres de la tarde.
You have an appointment at three in the afternoon.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries, the day is divided into 'de la mañana' (morning), 'de la tarde' (afternoon) and 'de la noche' (evening/night). After sunset you switch to 'de la noche'. Also, while the 12‑hour clock is common in everyday speech, the 24‑hour format is frequently used in official schedules, especially on transport timetables.