¿Cuándo vienes?
The English phrase "when are you coming?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Cuándo vienes?
This phrase is used to ask someone about the time or date of their arrival. You may also use ¿A qué hora vendrás? if you specifically want to ask "At what time will you come?"
What does it mean word for word?
The word cuándo means "when" and must include an accent mark when used in a question.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, the present tense form vienes is frequently used to express an action that is scheduled to happen in the immediate future, similar to the English "are you coming?"
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the polite form of "you" (usted) with the verb, change the word from vienes to viene, as seen in ¿Cuándo viene usted?
Did you know?
- The English word 'cue', used to signal an actor, shares the same Latin ancestor as the Spanish cuándo.
- Asking ¿Cuándo vienes? can function as an expression of emotional longing or hospitality rather than a literal inquiry about a schedule.
- If you ask ¿Cuándo vienes?, a response like al rato provides a general sense of 'later' but deliberately avoids committing to a specific minute or hour.
Examples in context
- Ya te extraño, ¿cuándo vienes?I miss you already, when are you coming?
Example conversation
María is talking to Alejandro on the phone about his trip.
- MaríaHola Alejandro, ¿cuándo vienes?Hello Alejandro, when are you coming?
- AlejandroVoy a llegar mañana por la tarde.I am going to arrive tomorrow afternoon.
- MaríaPerfecto, te espero en la estación.Perfect, I will wait for you at the station.
- AlejandroGracias, María, nos vemos mañana.Thanks, María, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuándo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
