Spanish - Places

Lesson 155 of 159

Photo of a small Latin American storefront with a sign: practice Spanish phrases about open and closed places.

Goal: Open, closed, and asking about space

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you talk about whether places are open or closed and how to ask about times and space. Have fun — you'll practice hearing, recognizing, and saying five useful Spanish phrases for everyday places in Latin America.

Level A1: In Lesson 155 you'll learn five practical phrases used around shops, restaurants, and parking in Latin America: how to say 'It's open/closed,' how to ask when a place closes or opens, and how to ask if there is space. These CEFR-aligned phrases are short, common, and perfect to practice speaking aloud and using right away.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and understand five A1 phrases for places and hours.
  • Ask and answer simple questions about opening hours and space.
  • Practice saying each phrase out loud so you can use them while traveling.
A traveler checking a café door and a parking lot while learning how to ask 'What time do you open/close?' in Spanish.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Está cerrado.

It’s closed.

Meaning: It’s closed.

When to use: Use this to say a shop, office, door, or street is not open right now.

Tip: Don’t use 'ser' here; use 'estar' for temporary closed situations.

La tienda está cerrada hoy.
The store is closed today.
La calle está cerrada por reparaciones.
The street is closed for repairs.

Está abierto.

It’s open.

Meaning: It’s open.

When to use: Say this for businesses, doors, parks, or services that are available now.

El café está abierto hasta las ocho.
The café is open until eight.
La puerta está abierta, puedes entrar.
The door is open, you can go in.

¿A qué hora cierran?

What time do you close?

Meaning: What time do you close?

When to use: Ask this at a business when you want to know the closing time; subject (you/they) is often implied.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say '¿A qué hora cierra?' — that is OK if you mean one specific person or store; 'cierran' sounds natural for business hours.

Disculpe, ¿a qué hora cierran hoy?
Excuse me, what time do you close today?
¿A qué hora cierran los domingos?
What time do you close on Sundays?

¿A qué hora abren?

What time do you open?

Meaning: What time do you open?

When to use: Use this to ask about the opening time of stores, offices, or services.

¿A qué hora abren la panadería?
What time does the bakery open?
Mañana, ¿a qué hora abren aquí?
Tomorrow, what time do you open here?

¿Hay lugar?

Is there space?

Meaning: Is there space?

When to use: Ask this when checking for seating, parking spots, class availability, or space at an event.

¿Hay lugar en la mesa para dos?
Is there space at the table for two?
En el estacionamiento, ¿hay lugar para mi coche?
In the parking lot, is there space for my car?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David check a café and ask about hours and space.

Two people at a bakery talking about opening hours and whether there is space inside — useful Spanish for places.

What are Anna and David checking about the café?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Está abierto?

Is it open?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

No, está cerrado.

No, it's closed.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿A qué hora abren mañana?

What time do they open tomorrow?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Creo que abren a las ocho.

I think they open at eight.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Entonces volvemos a las ocho. ¿Hay lugar para sentarnos?

Then we'll come back at eight. Is there space for us to sit?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Esperemos que sí.

Let's hope so.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'It's open'?

You want to ask 'What time do you close?' at a shop. Which is correct?

If you want to know whether there's room at a table, which question do you use?

Choose the phrase to ask when a bakery opens.

Anna asks: 'What time do you open?'

Anna arrives at the bakery at 8:50 and asks the owner: ___.

David confirms: 'It's closed.'

David sees the shop with a closed sign and asks, '___' to confirm.

You ask: 'Is there space?' for seating.

At the busy restaurant you ask the host: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Está cerrado.

It's closed.

Say this phrase out loud:

Está abierto.

It's open.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿A qué hora cierran?

What time do you close?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿A qué hora abren?

What time do you open?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Hay lugar?

Is there space?