“What Time Do You Close?” in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, French

This is a useful phrase when visiting shops, restaurants, and public places. Knowing how to ask closing times helps with travel planning and polite interaction.

Lets discuss “What Time Do You Close?” in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, French

Spanish

1. Word Overview

• Native Phrase: ¿A qué hora cierran?
• English Translation: What time do you close?
• Part of Speech: Interrogative sentence (verb: cerrar)
• IPA Pronunciation: /a ke ˈo.ɾa ˈθje.ran/ (Spain), /ˈsje.ran/ (Latin America)

2. Example Sentence

• ¿A qué hora cierran los domingos?
• What time do you close on Sundays?

Cierran is third-person plural (they close), used to ask about places or businesses.

3. Mini Grammar or Culture Note

Use ¿A qué hora cierra? for formal, singular (e.g., small shop). Use cierran for general/business references.

4. Daily Practice Challenge

Ask yourself aloud: ¿A qué hora cierran el supermercado, la farmacia y el banco?

Italian

1. Word Overview

• Native Phrase: A che ora chiudete?
• English Translation: What time do you close?
• Part of Speech: Interrogative sentence (verb: chiudere)
• IPA Pronunciation: /a ke ˈo.ra kjuˈde.te/

2. Example Sentence

• A che ora chiudete la sera?
• What time do you close in the evening?

Chiudete is second-person plural (you all close), polite when addressing businesses.

3. Mini Grammar or Culture Note

Italians commonly use the plural voi form when talking to store staff. For informal, singular use: chiudi.

4. Daily Practice Challenge

Write out three sentences starting with A che ora chiudete… and complete them with common locations.

Portuguese

1. Word Overview

• Native Phrase: A que horas vocês fecham?
• English Translation: What time do you close?
• Part of Speech: Interrogative sentence (verb: fechar)
• IPA Pronunciation: /a ki ˈɔ.ɾas voˈsejs ˈfe.ʃɐ̃w̃/ (Brazilian)

2. Example Sentence

• A que horas vocês fecham hoje?
• What time do you close today?

Vocês fecham is polite and standard in Brazilian Portuguese. In Portugal, you may hear A que horas fecham?

3. Mini Grammar or Culture Note

Fecham is third-person plural. Fechar means “to close.” In Brazil, vocês is commonly used for plural “you.”

4. Daily Practice Challenge

Practice this aloud: A que horas vocês fecham amanhã? (tomorrow)

German

1. Word Overview

• Native Phrase: Wann schließen Sie?
• English Translation: What time do you close?
• Part of Speech: Interrogative sentence (verb: schließen)
• IPA Pronunciation: /van ˈʃliː.sən ziː/

2. Example Sentence

• Wann schließen Sie heute Abend?
• What time do you close this evening?

Sie schließen is the polite/formal “you close.”

3. Mini Grammar or Culture Note

German uses the formal Sie form in all public/business contexts. Avoid the informal du when speaking to staff.

4. Daily Practice Challenge

Say out loud: Wann schließen Sie morgen? Wann schließen Sie am Wochenende?

French

1. Word Overview

• Native Phrase: À quelle heure fermez-vous ?
• English Translation: What time do you close?
• Part of Speech: Interrogative sentence (verb: fermer)
• Gender: Heure is feminine (la heure → l’heure)
• IPA Pronunciation: /a kɛl œʁ fɛʁ.me vu/

2. Example Sentence

• À quelle heure fermez-vous le soir ?
• What time do you close in the evening?

Fermez-vous is the formal construction. You may also hear: Vous fermez à quelle heure ?

3. Mini Grammar or Culture Note

French questions often use inversion for formal settings (fermez-vous). In speech, Vous fermez à quelle heure ? is more natural.

4. Daily Practice Challenge

Say aloud: À quelle heure fermez-vous aujourd’hui ? Try replacing aujourd’hui with le dimanche, à midi, etc.

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