Spanish Phrase
¿A qué hora terminas?
Meaning
The sentence asks the listener to specify the exact time they finish something—usually work, a class, a meeting, or any activity with a clear end point. It is informal because it uses the tú form.
When to use
Use this question when you need to coordinate schedules, such as arranging a ride, planning a lunch, or confirming when a colleague will be free. It works in both personal and professional settings, as long as you are speaking to someone you address with tú.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Aquéhoraterminas?
A qué hora
The phrase 'a qué hora' is used to ask about the specific time something happens. It literally means 'at what hour'.
Terminas (presente)
‘Terminas’ is the second‑person singular (tú) present indicative of terminar, meaning ‘you finish’. In everyday speech it can also refer to a near‑future action.
Question marks
Spanish uses an opening (¿) and a closing (?) question mark. Both are required.
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora terminas?
What time do you finish?
Termino a las cinco de la tarde.
I finish at five p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Qué hora terminas?
The preposition ‘a’ is required before ‘qué hora’ when asking for a specific time.
¿A qué hora termina?
Using ‘termina’ (third‑person) changes the subject; you need ‘terminas’ for ‘you’. If you’re asking about someone else, keep ‘termina’.
¿A qué hora terminas tú?
Adding ‘tú’ is redundant in informal speech and can sound overly emphatic.
↔Alternatives
¿A qué hora acabas?
What time do you finish?
¿A qué hora finalizas?
At what time do you finish?
¿A qué hora sales?
What time are you leaving?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries punctuality is valued, but the exact meaning of ‘terminar’ can vary. In a work context it usually means the official end of the shift, while in a social setting it can refer to when a meeting or activity wraps up. If you need a more formal tone, replace the tú form with the usted form: ‘¿A qué hora termina usted?’