What time do you open?
in Spanish¿A qué hora abren?
/ah keh OR-ah AH-bren/
This is the most common, natural way to ask business staff when they open. It literally means 'At what time do you (plural) open?' addressing the staff as a group.
Asking '¿A qué hora abren?' is essential for planning your shopping trips.
💬Other Ways to Say It
¿A qué hora abre?
/ah keh OR-ah AH-breh/
Uses the singular form. It refers to 'the store' or 'the business' (it) rather than the people working there.
¿Cuál es el horario de apertura?
/kwal ehs el or-AR-ee-oh deh ah-per-TOO-rah/
A more formal way to ask 'What is the opening schedule?'.
¿Cuándo abren?
/KWAN-doh AH-bren/
Means simply 'When do you open?'. It is slightly less precise than asking for the specific hour.
¿A qué hora abrís?
/ah keh OR-ah ah-BREES/
Uses the 'vosotros' form found only in Spain. It addresses the staff as a group of peers.
¿Desde qué hora están abiertos?
/DEHS-deh keh OR-ah ehs-TAN ah-bee-EHR-tohs/
Means 'From what time are you open?'. Focuses on the starting point of the day.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Here is a quick guide to choosing the right phrase based on who you are talking to.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿A qué hora abren? | Neutral/Standard | Any business, restaurant, or shop anywhere | Never - this is the safest option |
| ¿A qué hora abrís? | Informal (Spain) | Casual bars or shops in Spain | You are in Latin America or speaking to elderly staff |
| ¿Cuál es el horario? | Formal | Reception desks, official offices, or phone inquiries | You want a quick, casual answer |
📈Difficulty Level
Fairly easy. The 'H' in 'hora' is silent, and the 'r' is a soft tap, not a roll.
Standard question structure. The main challenge is remembering the preposition 'A' at the start.
Straightforward, just remember to add a polite greeting first.
Key Challenges:
- Remembering to say 'A qué hora' instead of just 'Qué hora'
- Understanding the time when they answer (numbers)
💡Examples in Action
Disculpe, ¿a qué hora abren mañana?
Excuse me, what time do you open tomorrow?
Hola, quería saber a qué hora abre el restaurante para la cena.
Hi, I wanted to know what time the restaurant opens for dinner.
¿Sabes a qué hora abren los bancos aquí?
Do you know what time the banks open here?
🌍Cultural Context
The 24-Hour Clock
While people usually speak in 12-hour time (saying 'las tres de la tarde'), written business hours on signs often use the 24-hour clock (15:00). If you ask what time they open and they say 'a las catorce' (at 14:00), just subtract 12 to get 2:00 PM.
The Split Schedule in Spain
In Spain and some parts of Latin America, smaller businesses often close for a few hours in the mid-afternoon (roughly 2 PM to 5 PM) for lunch/siesta. If you ask when they open, they might give you two times: the morning opening and the evening reopening.
Politeness Markers
In Spanish culture, it can feel abrupt to walk up to someone and immediately ask a question. It is customary to start with a greeting like 'Buenos días' (Good morning) or 'Disculpe' (Excuse me) before asking '¿A qué hora abren?'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'A'
Mistake: "Asking '¿Qué hora abren?'"
Correction: ¿A qué hora abren?
Confusing Time with Weather
Mistake: "Asking '¿Qué tiempo abren?'"
Correction: ¿A qué hora abren?
Mixing up 'Open' (Verb vs. Adjective)
Mistake: "Asking '¿A qué hora abierto?'"
Correction: ¿A qué hora abren? (verb) OR ¿Cuándo está abierto? (adjective)
💡Pro Tips
Add 'Hoy' or 'Mañana'
To be perfectly clear, add 'hoy' (today) or 'mañana' (tomorrow) at the end of your question. Example: '¿A qué hora abren hoy?' This helps avoid confusion if hours change on weekends.
Look for the Sign 'Horario'
If you are standing outside a shop, look for a sign that says 'Horario' (Schedule/Hours). You might not even need to ask if you spot this key word!
🗺️Regional Variations
Latin America (General)
In Latin America, it is very common to refer to the business staff as 'ustedes' (plural you), so 'abren' is the standard. Using 'abre' (referring to the shop) is also perfectly fine.
Spain
Spain distinguishes between formal (ustedes) and informal (vosotros). In a cool clothing store or bar, '¿A qué hora abrís?' is very natural. In a bank or luxury hotel, stick to 'abren'.
Mexico
Politeness is paramount in Mexico. It is almost mandatory to start with 'Hola, buenas tardes, disculpe...' before asking the question. Being too direct can be seen as rude.
💬What Comes Next?
They tell you the opening time
Abrimos a las nueve.
We open at nine.
Perfecto, gracias.
Perfect, thank you.
You want to know when they close as well
Abrimos a las diez.
We open at ten.
¿Y a qué hora cierran?
And what time do you close?
🔄How It Differs from English
In English, we can casually say 'What time do you open?' without a preposition. In Spanish, the structure is strictly 'AT what time...' (A qué hora...). Also, Spanish speakers often treat the business as a plural group of people ('abren' - they open/you guys open) rather than a singular entity ('it opens'), though both are understood.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: This asks for the current clock time, not a scheduled event.
Use instead: ¿Qué hora es? (Current time) vs ¿A qué hora...? (Event time)
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say what time do you close
The natural counterpart to asking when they open.
How to say are you open
Useful for when you are standing right in front of the store.
Numbers 1 to 12 in Spanish
You need to understand the numbers to understand the answer they give you!
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: What time do you open?
Question 1 of 3
Which small word must you include at the very beginning of the phrase?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just say '¿A qué hora abre?' (singular)?
Yes, absolutely! 'Abre' refers to the store itself (it opens), while 'abren' refers to the staff (they open). Both are perfectly correct and understood everywhere.
What if I don't understand the time they tell me?
Don't panic! You can simply show them your phone screen with a time typed out, or ask '¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?' (Can you write it down, please?).
Is it 'qué hora' or 'qué horas'?
For this specific question, '¿A qué hora...?' (singular) is the standard grammar. In some regions, people might colloquially say '¿Qué horas son?' for the current time, but for opening times, keep it singular: 'hora'.
How do I ask if they are open right now?
Instead of asking for the time, simply ask: '¿Están abiertos?' (Are you guys open?) or '¿Está abierto?' (Is it open?).
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