Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Subimos a la azotea para ver el atardecer con mi familia. - We go up to the rooftop to watch the sunset with my family.

It’s ambiguous out of context. Subimos is both first-person plural present (we go up) and preterite (we went up). Spanish often relies on context or time markers.

Present/habitual: Siempre subimos a la azotea para ver el atardecer.
Ongoing right now: Estamos subiendo a la azotea…
Clear past: Ayer subimos a la azotea…

Why is it a la azotea and not en la azotea?

Use a to indicate movement toward a destination (we go up to the rooftop). Use en for location (we are on the rooftop).

Movement: Subimos a la azotea.
Location: Estamos en la azotea. You can also combine direction with means: Subimos a la azotea en el ascensor.

What’s the difference between azotea, techo, and terraza in Latin America?

Azotea: an accessible, flat rooftop you can stand or hang out on. Very common in Mexico, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and the Andes.
Techo: roof in general; also commonly means “ceiling” indoors. Not typically used to mean a place you hang out.
Terraza: terrace/patio; in some countries (e.g., Argentina, parts of Chile/Peru) it can also be the rooftop terrace. If you mean a usable rooftop space, azotea (or terraza depending on the country) is safest.

Why is it el atardecer? Could I say la atardecer or drop the article?

Atardecer is masculine, so it’s el atardecer. As a noun referring to the daily natural event, Spanish normally uses the definite article:

Natural phenomena: el atardecer, el amanecer, el sol, la luna. You can say un atardecer when talking about one among many (e.g., un atardecer hermoso).

Is atardecer the same as puesta de sol or anochecer/ocaso?

El atardecer: the late afternoon/evening period as daylight wanes; often used for the experience of sunset.
La puesta de sol: literally the sun’s setting; very common and clear in LA Spanish.
El anochecer: the onset of night (a bit later/darker than atardecer).
El ocaso: more literary/formal for sunset. For everyday talk, ver el atardecer or ver la puesta de sol are both great choices.

Why para ver and not a ver or por ver?

Para + infinitive expresses purpose: in order to. That’s exactly what you want: Subimos… para ver…
A ver can also mean “let’s see/let me see,” so it’s ambiguous and more colloquial for purpose.
Por + infinitive does not express purpose; it suggests cause/motive and is not used here.

When do I need para que + subjunctive instead of para + infinitive?

Use para + infinitive when the subject is the same for both actions:

Subimos para ver el atardecer. (we… we) Use para que + subjunctive when the subject changes:
Subimos a la azotea para que mis hijos vieran el atardecer. (we… they)

Should it be con mi familia or con mis familia?

Use con mi familia. Familia is grammatically singular (a collective noun), so the possessive is singular mi. If you want to stress the individuals, you could say con mis familiares (with my relatives).

If subimos already means we, isn’t con mi familia redundant or confusing?

It’s grammatical but potentially vague about who “we” includes. To be crystal clear that the “we” is your family and you, say:

Mi familia y yo subimos a la azotea… You can also say Subimos… en familia (as a family).

Why not con nuestra familia since the subject is we?

Mi highlights the speaker’s own family. Nuestra familia implies the family belongs to everyone in the “we” group (e.g., a couple saying “our family”). Both can be correct depending on the context you mean.

Could I say fuimos a la azotea instead of subimos?

Yes, but ir is neutral “to go,” while subir emphasizes upward movement. Since rooftops require going up, subir is the more precise verb here.

Is mirar el atardecer okay, or is ver better?

Both are understood. Ver is more idiomatic for sunsets. Mirar emphasizes the act of looking/watching more actively, but many natives still say mirar la puesta de sol. Safe default: ver el atardecer.

Can I use nos subimos a la azotea?

You can hear subirse in some contexts (especially for getting on vehicles: nos subimos al bus), but for going up to a place, plain subir a is standard. Nos subimos a la azotea isn’t wrong, but Subimos a la azotea sounds more neutral.

How would I say we used to go up… to talk about a habit?

Use the imperfect: Subíamos a la azotea para ver el atardecer.

How would I say we have gone up… (present perfect)? Is there any regional difference?

Hemos subido a la azotea… is the present perfect. In much of Latin America, for recent finished actions people often prefer the preterite: Subimos a la azotea… In Spain, hemos subido is very common for recent past.

Does con mi familia attach to subimos or to ver el atardecer?

It can be read either way. Word order can clarify emphasis:

Emphasize who goes up: Con mi familia, subimos a la azotea para ver el atardecer.
Emphasize watching together: Subimos a la azotea para ver el atardecer con mi familia. Both are natural.

Do I need the contraction al here? Why not al azotea?

You only contract a + el = al. Since azotea is feminine (la azotea), it stays a la azotea. Saying al azotea is incorrect.

Is the gerund acceptable for purpose, like subimos… viendo el atardecer?

No. Spanish does not use the gerund to express purpose. Use para + infinitive: Subimos… para ver el atardecer. The gerund would describe simultaneous action, not intention, and would sound odd here.

Any quick pronunciation tips for azotea and atardecer?

azotea: ah-so-TEH-ah (stress on TE). The z sounds like an s in most of Latin America.
atardecer: ah-tar-deh-SER (stress on SER). The d between vowels is soft.