Spanish Phrase
Preferimos a las 7 de la noche.
Meaning
The sentence means 'We prefer it at 7 p.m.' It expresses a collective preference for a specific time, usually when arranging a meeting, dinner, or any activity that takes place in the evening.
When to use
Use this phrase when you and others are deciding on a time for an event, such as a dinner, a movie, or a class, and you want to state that 7 p.m. is the most convenient or liked option.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Preferimosalas7delanoche
Preferir (present indicative)
Preferir is a regular -ir verb. In the present indicative, the 1st person plural form ends in -imos: preferimos = 'we prefer'.
Time preposition 'a'
When indicating a specific time, Spanish uses the preposition 'a' before the hour (a las ocho, a las tres).
Definite article with hours
Hours are preceded by the feminine plural article 'las' (las ocho, las siete) because the word 'hora' is feminine and plural in this context.
Part of day – de la noche
To specify the part of the day, add 'de la mañana/tarde/noche' after the hour. Here 'de la noche' means 'in the evening/night'.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora nos reunimos mañana?
What time shall we meet tomorrow?
Preferimos a las 7 de la noche.
We prefer it at 7 p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
Preferimos en las 7 de la noche.
The preposition for a specific time is 'a', not 'en'.
Preferimos las 7 de la noche.
You need the preposition 'a' before the hour.
Preferimos a las 7 de la noche.
When speaking, spell out the number: 'siete'.
Preferimos a las 7.
If you want to be more precise, you can add 'en punto' after the hour, but dropping 'de la noche' changes the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Nosotros preferimos a las siete de la noche.
We prefer it at seven in the evening.
Preferimos a las 7 p.m.
We prefer it at 7 p.m.
Preferimos a las siete en punto de la noche.
We prefer it at exactly seven in the evening.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries, 7 p.m. is a common dinner time, especially in Spain where people often eat later. When you say 'a las 7 de la noche' you’re implicitly referring to the evening meal, so the phrase works well for arranging dinner dates or family gatherings. In formal contexts, the 24‑hour clock (19:00) may be used instead of '7 p.m.'.