How to ask “When do we start” in Spanish basics

Introduction

Knowing how to ask when something starts is one of the most practical skills for a Spanish beginner. This article teaches clear, everyday ways to ask When do we start in Spanish, with vocabulary, simple grammar, realistic examples, and common mistakes to avoid. All Spanish examples use Latin American standard forms and are ideal for classroom, work, and travel situations.

Core Spanish phrases to ask When do we start

Begin with basic, direct phrases. The most natural translations for When do we start are

¿Cuándo empezamos?

¿Cuándo comenzamos?

Both verbs mean to start or to begin. Use empezar for very common speech and comenzar for slightly more formal or written contexts. The verb endings match the subject we (nosotros/nosotras), but in Spanish the subject pronoun can be omitted when the verb form is clear.

Quick note on verb forms

The present tense for we is conjugated as

empezamos — we start / we are starting

comenzamos — we start / we are starting

Use these forms to ask When do we start now, in a general sense.

Popular alternative questions and nuance

Depending on context you may want to ask more specific questions. Here are common alternatives with explanations.

¿A qué hora empezamos?

Use this to ask What time do we start. A qué hora literally asks for a clock time.

¿Cuándo vamos a empezar?

Use this to ask When are we going to start, implying a planned future start. It uses the structure ir a + infinitive, common in spoken Spanish.

¿Cuándo empieza la clase?

Use this to ask When does the class start. This changes the subject to a singular noun like clase, reunión, película.

¿Cuándo empieza el evento?

Use this for events, meetings, or public activities.

Useful vocabulary to pair with start questions

These words help give context or clarify your question.

hora — time (clock time)

clase — class

reunión — meeting

evento — event

taller — workshop

presentación — presentation

sesión — session

mañana — morning

tarde — afternoon

noche — evening/night

Simple context-based examples

Below are realistic beginner-level dialogues and short messages where you might ask When do we start.

At a classroom or workshop

Student: ¿A qué hora empezamos la clase?
Teacher: Empezamos a las 9:00.

With friends before a movie

Friend: ¿Cuándo empieza la película?
Friend 2: Empieza a las 7:30 de la noche.

At work before a meeting

Colleague: ¿Cuándo vamos a empezar la reunión?
Colleague 2: La reunión empieza en 10 minutos.

On a schedule or sign

Sign: La sesión empieza a las 14:00

Short message to a classmate

Text: ¿Cuándo empezamos el taller?
Reply: El taller comienza el martes a las 2 pm.

Example breakdowns for learners

Analyze one example to understand structure. Take the phrase ¿A qué hora empezamos?

¿ — question mark opening

A qué hora — asks for a clock time

empezamos — we start (present tense)

This question is complete and polite. Add por favor at the end for extra politeness: ¿A qué hora empezamos, por favor?

How to respond when someone asks you When do we start

Short, practical responses are best for beginners.

Time specific

Empiezamos a las 8:30.

Immediate start

Empezamos ahora.

Short wait

Empezamos en cinco minutos.

Different subject

La clase empieza a las 9.

Beginner tips for pronunciation and usage

Pronunciation tips for Latin American Spanish:

empezamos — pronounce the s clearly, e.g., em-peh-SA-mos

comenzamos — stress the second syllable, co-men-ZA-mos

A qué hora — the que is pronounced like keh, and hora like OH-rah

Frequency and register:

Use empezamos in casual conversations. Use comenzamos in formal emails or printed schedules. Both are widely understood across Latin America.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mixing verb forms

Incorrect: ¿Cuándo empezas? — This uses tú form and is wrong if asking about we. Correct: ¿Cuándo empezamos?

Using literal translations

Incorrect: ¿Cuándo nosotros empezamos? — The subject pronoun nosotros is unnecessary. Correct: ¿Cuándo empezamos?

Confusing a qué hora and cuándo

Use ¿A qué hora? when you need a clock time. Use ¿Cuándo? for dates or general times (tomorrow, next week).

For date vs time

¿Cuándo empezamos? — When do we start (date or general time)

¿A qué hora empezamos? — What time do we start (specific clock time)

Practice exercises for beginners

Fill in with the correct verb form

1) Nosotros ____ a las 6. (empezar)

Answer: Nosotros empezamos a las 6.

2) ¿____ la reunión mañana? (comenzar)

Answer: ¿Cuándo comienza la reunión mañana?

Make your own questions

Write three situations and form the question using either ¿Cuándo empezamos? or ¿A qué hora empezamos?

Short role-play scripts

Practice speaking with a partner. Script 1: At the language school

Student A: ¿A qué hora empieza la clase de español?
Student B: Empieza a las 10:00.

Script 2: Before a workshop

Participant A: ¿Cuándo empezamos el taller?
Participant B: Empezamos el lunes por la mañana.

Useful sign and form phrases a beginner might see

These short phrases appear on schedules, signs, and registration forms.

Horario — schedule

Inicio — start

Hora de inicio — start time

Comienzo — beginning

Example on a schedule

Horario de clases
Inicio: 9:00 am
Fin: 10:30 am

Polite variations and formal contexts

When speaking politely or in formal settings, you can soften the question.

¿Podría decirme cuándo empezamos?

This means Could you tell me when we start and is polite for emails or asking staff.

¿Me informa a qué hora empieza la sesión?

This is a formal request for time information and useful in customer service interactions.

Quick cheat sheet for learners

Common quick questions:

¿Cuándo empezamos? — When do we start?

¿A qué hora empezamos? — What time do we start?

¿Cuándo vamos a empezar? — When are we going to start?

Short useful answers:

Empiezamos ahora.

Empiezamos a las 3 pm.

Empezamos en 10 minutos.

Conclusion

Mastering how to ask When do we start in Spanish gives beginners a practical tool for classrooms, meetings, and everyday situations. Use ¿Cuándo empezamos? for general timing, ¿A qué hora empezamos? when you want a clock time, and ¿Cuándo vamos a empezar? for planned future starts. Practice the short dialogues and signs in this article to build confidence in real conversations.