¿a qué hora es la cena?
The phrase "what time is dinner?" in Spanish is ¿a qué hora es la cena?
This phrase is used to ask for the scheduled time of the evening meal. You can also use ¿Cuándo es la cena? to ask when dinner is, though this version is slightly less specific about the exact clock time.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "At what hour is the dinner?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use ¿A qué hora es la comida? to ask about the dinner time. In Spain, you can ask ¿A qué hora se cena? to ask about dinner time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase begins with the preposition a (at) because in Spanish you ask at what time an event occurs.
Did you know?
- The word cena shares an ancient root with the English word 'corner' and the verb 'to cut', because the word originally referred to a 'portion' of food that had been sliced or carved.
- In Spain and many Latin American countries, la cena typically happens much later than in English-speaking cultures, often between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Examples in context
- La cena es a las ocho.Dinner is at eight.
- Disculpe, ¿a qué hora es la cena?Excuse me, what time is dinner?
- Mamá, ¿a qué hora es la cena?Mom, what time is dinner?
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are in the living room in the late afternoon.
- MateoSofía, ¿a qué hora es la cena?Sofía, what time is dinner?
- SofíaEs a las ocho, Mateo.It is at eight, Mateo.
- MateoTengo mucha hambre.I am very hungry.
- SofíaEspera un poco más.Wait a little longer.
