Spanish Phrase
¿A qué hora es tu cita?
Meaning
This question asks the listener to specify the exact time of their appointment. It can refer to a medical visit, a business meeting, a class, or even a romantic date, depending on context.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to confirm the scheduled time of an upcoming appointment, especially if you are coordinating travel, preparing documents, or simply want to be punctual.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Aquéhoraestucita?
¿A qué
The combination '¿A qué' introduces a question about a specific detail, here asking for the time.
hora
A feminine noun meaning 'hour' or 'time'. It follows the preposition 'a' in this construction.
es (ser)
The verb 'ser' is used to tell the time or the scheduled time of an event, not 'estar'.
tu
Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (informal). It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
cita
A feminine noun meaning 'appointment', 'meeting', or 'date'.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora es tu cita?
What time is your appointment?
Es a las tres de la tarde.
It's at three p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
¿A qué hora está tu cita?
Use 'es' (ser) for scheduled times, not 'está' (estar).
¿Qué hora tiene tu cita?
While understandable, the more natural structure is '¿A qué hora es tu cita?' or '¿A qué hora tienes la cita?'.
Tu cita es a las tres.
The correct order is 'Es a las tres' after the question; placing 'tu cita' before the verb can sound awkward.
↔Alternatives
¿A qué hora tienes la cita?
At what time do you have the appointment?
¿Cuándo es tu cita?
When is your appointment?
¿A qué hora queda tu cita?
At what time is your appointment scheduled?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, appointments (citas) often start a few minutes after the agreed time, especially social or romantic ones. For professional or medical appointments, arriving 5‑10 minutes early is considered courteous. Also, note that 'cita' can be formal (doctor, lawyer) or informal (date), so the surrounding conversation will clarify the nuance.