¿cuándo puedes?
The English phrase "when can you" is translated into Spanish as ¿cuándo puedes?
A question used to ask someone about their availability to do something.
Which one should you use?
¿cuándo puedes? is an informal way to say 'when can you' in Spanish. For formal settings, such as when making appointments or scheduling professional meetings, you might use the more polite phrase ¿Cuándo sería conveniente para usted? or the direct formal ¿Cuándo puede usted? In informal situations, if you want to emphasize the other person's convenience, you can say ¿Cuándo sería un buen momento para ti?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the phrase ¿Cuándo podés vos? is used in informal settings instead of ¿Cuándo puedes?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the second-person singular form of the verb poder (to be able to/can).
Did you know?
- The word cuándo is an ancient relative of the English word 'cue'. Both evolved from the Latin word quandō.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, answering ¿cuándo puedes? with a vague phrase like cuando quieras (whenever you want) is often a polite social convention rather than a literal invitation to pick any time.
- If you are in a very formal setting, you might avoid the verb entirely and use the noun disponibilidad to ask about a person's availability.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, señor. ¿Cuándo puede usted reunirse conmigo?Excuse me, sir. When can you meet with me?
- Tengo una propuesta de negocios que discutir. ¿Cuándo estaría disponible?I have a business proposal to discuss. When would you be available?
- ¡Oye! ¿Cuándo puedes venir a mi casa?Hey! When can you come over to my place?
- ¿Cuándo puedes hablar?When can you talk?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuándo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
