¿a qué hora empieza la clase?
The English phrase "what time does class start?" is translated into Spanish as ¿a qué hora empieza la clase?
This question is used to inquire about the specific time a scheduled lesson or period of instruction begins.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "at what hour starts the class?"
Which one should you use?
You can also use the synonym ¿a qué hora comienza la clase? to ask the same question. While empieza is very common, comienza is a perfectly valid alternative for expressing the start of a class.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use ¿A qué hora inicia la clase? to ask about the start time of a class.
How does it change in a sentence?
When asking about more than one class, you must ensure the verb agrees with the subject. For example, if you are asking about multiple classes, use the plural form ¿a qué hora empiezan las clases? to agree with las clases.
Did you know?
- The word clase comes from the Latin classis, which originally referred to a division of the Roman people based on wealth and social rank rather than a group of students.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, if you ask ¿a qué hora empieza la clase?, a response like estoy llegando might mean the person is still far away, reflecting a more flexible cultural attitude toward punctuality.
- The word hora is used in Spanish to refer to a specific point in time, whereas in English, 'hour' is primarily used to describe a duration of 60 minutes.
Examples in context
- Estimado profesor, ¿a qué hora comienza la clase de historia?Dear professor, what time does the history class start?
- La clase empieza a las nueve.Class starts at nine.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the university hallway.
- MateoHola, Lucía, ¿a qué hora empieza la clase?Hello, Lucía, what time does class start?
- LucíaEmpieza a las diez, Mateo.It starts at ten, Mateo.
- MateoGracias por la información.Thanks for the information.
- LucíaDe nada, nos vemos allá.You're welcome, see you there.
