How to say ‘when’ in Spanish like native speakers

Do you want to learn how to say “when” in Spanish? You’ve come to the right place. “When” is one of the most common Spanish adverbs. You may already know that cuándo is the Spanish translation for “when.” However, this isn’t our only option.

This guide will look at the various ways to say “when” in Spanish and provide some examples to practice.

Common ways to say ‘when’ in Spanish

1.   Cuándo

The most common translation of ‘when’ in Spanish is cuándo. It is an adverb that is used primarily to ask questions about time.

Spanish	English
¿Cuándo llegarás?	When will you arrive?
¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?	When is your birthday?
¿Cuándo vamos al cine?	When are we going to the cinema?

Cuándo can also be used to ask questions in an exclamatory tone or to respond indirectly to questions. For example:

Spanish	English
¡¿Cuándo terminará esto?!	When will this end?!
Le pregunté a Juan cuándo llegaría	I asked Juan when he would arrive

You’ve noticed that cuándo has an accent on the letter “a”. Don’t forget to add it! This accent is what distinguishes it from another very similar word, cuando. But… What is the difference between cuándo and cuando?

While cuándo and cuando are adverbs that mean “when” in Spanish, cuándo is used to ask a question. For example:

Spanish	English
¿Cuándo volverás?	When will you come back?

When using “when” in a statement, we use cuando to refer to a specific moment in time when something happened, happen, or will occur.

Spanish	English
Cuando en Sudamérica es de día, en Europa es de noche.	When in South America it is daytime, in Europe it is night
Cuando llegues a casa, llámame.	When you get home, call me

Look for ways to learn the basic Spanish words and their key differences to expand your vocabulary list. You can use flashcards to memorize new words and their meanings in general. Additionally, learning the Spanish language and culture can also help you understand the contextual use of these Spanish words. Immerse yourself in Spanish culture to understand the values and norms of locals. It will help you immensely in language acquisition.

2.   ¿En qué momento?

¿En qué momento? Literally means “In what moment?” For instance:

Spanish	English
¿En qué momento llegará Rosa?	When is Rosa coming?
¿En qué momento del año llueve más en esta región?	At what time of the year does it rain the most in this region?

3.   ¿A qué hora?

This phrase means, “At what time?” When we ask this question, we refer to a specific time of day. For example,

Spanish	English
¿A qué hora nos encontramos?	At what time do we meet?
¿A qué hora tienes que ir a clase?	What time do you have to go to class?

4.   ¿Qué día?

¿Qué día? Means “What day?” While using this question, we ask about a particular date:

Spanish	English
¿Qué día empiezan tus vacaciones?	What day does your vacation start?
¿Qué días tienes clases de piano?	On which days do you have piano lessons?

5.   ¿En qué mes?

 ¿En qué mes? Means “On which month?”

Spanish	English
¿En qué mes nació tu hijo?	On which month was your son born?
¿En qué mes te mudarás?	On which month will you move out?

6.   ¿En qué año?

¿en qué año? Means “On which year?”

Spanish	English
¿En qué año viajaste a México?	On which year did you travel to Mexico?
¿En qué año habrá elecciones?	On which year will there be elections?

Besides when in Spanish, it is also crucial to learn different ways to say what in Spanish. These are common expressions that are widely used in all languages. You must know the contextual use of different expressions to avoid embarrassing situations.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you ask ‘when’ in a general sense?

You can use the phrase ‘¿Cuándo?’ to inquire about the timing or occurrence of an event.

Are there cultural considerations when using expressions for ‘when’ in Spanish?

Understanding the cultural context can enhance your use of expressions like ‘cuándo,’ as it may vary based on regional nuances and customs.

How can I improve my proficiency using different expressions for ‘when’ in Spanish?

Practice listening to native speakers, engaging in conversations, and exploring diverse media to expose yourself to various contexts where these expressions are used.

Conclusion

The Spanish language offers a variety of expressions to convey the concept of ‘when,’ adding depth and nuance to communication. From the straightforward “¿Cuándo?” for general inquiries about timing to more specific expressions like “¿A qué hora? Choose the phrase that fits your satiation.

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