What does it mean word for word?
The expression ¿a qué hora te vas? literally translates to "at what hour do you go yourself?"
Which one should you use?
The form ¿a qué hora te vas? is used informally. If you are addressing one person formally, use ¿a qué hora se va? or ¿A qué hora se marcha usted? When addressing a group, the form depends on the context: use ¿a qué hora os vais? for an informal group in Spain or ¿a qué hora se van? for a formal group or when speaking to a group in Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use the informal phrase ¿A qué hora te largas? to ask about someone's departure time.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use ¿a qué hora se va? when speaking to someone you address as usted (formal you). In Spain, use ¿a qué hora os vais? when asking a group of people you know informally. Use ¿a qué hora se van? when addressing a group of people in Latin America or in a formal context in Spain.
Did you know?
- Depending on the social setting, asking ¿a qué hora te vas? can function as a polite but clear signal from a host that the party is over and it is time for the guest to go.
- While the phrase uses hora to mean 'hour', the word's Ancient Greek ancestor ὥρᾱ actually referred to a season or a time of year rather than a sixty-minute period.
- The verb irse, used in the form te vas, is a reflexive version of ir. This grammatical change transforms the meaning from 'going toward a destination' to 'departing from a location'.
Examples in context
- ¿a qué hora te vas de la fiesta?What time are you leaving the party?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, hora, qué, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
