a qué hora cierran
/a ke oɾa θjeran/from spelling rules
The English phrase "what time you close" is translated into Spanish as a qué hora cierran.
This phrase is a question used to ask a business or shop what time it stops operating for the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "at what hour they close".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form a qué hora cierran uses the third-person plural verb cierran, which in Spanish is used to refer to a business or an establishment collectively (the 'they' of the staff/owners). If you are speaking directly to a single person you know well, you would use a qué hora cierras. If you are referring to a specific shop as a singular entity, you would use a qué hora cierra.
How do you pronounce it?
/a ke oɾa θjeran/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When asking this question, ensure you include the preposition a at the beginning. English speakers often omit "at" when translating, but in Spanish, you must include a to correctly say "at what time".
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, shops may close for a few hours in the middle of the day for 'la siesta', meaning the answer to your question might change depending on whether it is afternoon.
- Using the plural cierran can sound more polite or indirect, as it refers to the establishment as a whole rather than demanding a specific person's action.
- The Spanish word hora is a linguistic relative of the English word 'hour' through their shared root in Latin hōra and Ancient Greek.
Examples in context
- Hola, ¿a qué hora cierra la tienda?Hello, what time does the store close?
- Disculpe, ¿a qué hora cierran hoy?Excuse me, what time do you close today?
- Necesito saber a qué hora cierran los museos.I need to know what time the museums close.
Example conversation
Elena is calling a local pharmacy to check their hours.
- ElenaHola, ¿a qué hora cierran hoy?Hello, what time do you close today?
- MateoHola, cerramos a las diez de la noche.Hello, we close at ten at night.
- ElenaPerfecto, iré en un rato.Perfect, I will go in a little while.
- MateoMuy bien, te esperamos.Very well, we will wait for you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, hora, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
