How to Say "when" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “when” is “cuando” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Yo cocino cuando llego a casa.
I cook when I get home.
Cuando era niño, vivía en México.
When I was a child, I lived in Mexico.
Llámame cuando llegues, por favor.
Call me when you arrive, please.
Connecting Two Ideas in Time
'Cuando' acts like a time-bridge, linking one action to another. For example, 'I was reading' (first action) + 'the phone rang' (second action) becomes 'Yo leía cuando sonó el teléfono'.
A Special Verb Form for the Future
When talking about a future event with 'cuando', the verb that follows often changes its ending. Instead of 'cuando llegas' (when you arrive), you'll say 'cuando llegues'. This special form is called the subjunctive.
Using the Wrong Verb Form for Future Actions
Mistake: “Te llamaré cuando llego al aeropuerto.”
Correction: Te llamaré cuando llegue al aeropuerto. After 'cuando', if the main action is in the future ('I will call you'), Spanish uses a special verb form for the second action ('I arrive').
Other Meanings of “cuando”
“cuando” can also mean:
- Used to ask a question about time.(A1)
Related Translations
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