Introduction
Knowing how to ask about store hours is one of the most practical skills for beginners learning Brazilian Portuguese. This article gives 30 essential phrases, clear explanations, and short dialogues so you can confidently check when shops, cafés, banks, and services are open. Each phrase is beginner-friendly and accompanied by English explanations and realistic examples.
- Why these phrases matter
- 30 essential phrases for checking store hours
- How to ask politely in real situations
- Short dialogues for beginners
- Common replies and signs you will see
- Beginner tips and common mistakes
- Practical scenarios and sample sentences
- How to leave a polite voicemail or message
- Quick reference cheat sheet
- Conclusion
Why these phrases matter
When traveling or living in Brazil, asking about opening times helps you plan errands, avoid closed doors, and manage your schedule. Many businesses have different hours on weekends or holidays, so simple questions and polite phrases will save time and reduce stress.
Key vocabulary to know
horário — schedule, opening hours
aberto — open
fechado — closed
funcionar — to operate, to be open
horário de funcionamento — hours of operation
até — until
das — from (used with time ranges: das 9 às 18)
às — to (used in time range)
30 essential phrases for checking store hours
1. Que horas vocês abrem? — What time do you open?
2. Que horas vocês fecham? — What time do you close?
3. Qual é o horário de funcionamento? — What are the opening hours?
4. Vocês estão abertos agora? — Are you open now?
5. Vocês estarão abertos mais tarde? — Will you be open later?
6. A loja abre aos domingos? — Does the store open on Sundays?
7. O supermercado funciona 24 horas? — Does the supermarket operate 24 hours?
8. Qual é o horário de atendimento? — What are the service hours?
9. Vocês têm horário de almoço? — Do you have a lunch break?
10. Quando reabrem? — When do you reopen?
11. Estamos fechados por hora — We are closed for now (useful to recognize)
12. Voltamos às — We return at (follow with time, useful on signs)
13. Atendimento das — Service from (used on signs: Atendimento das 9 às 17)
14. Aberto até as — Open until (useful for late-night shops)
15. Fechado para manutenção — Closed for maintenance
16. Horário especial de feriado — Special holiday hours
17. Das 9 às 18 — From 9 to 6 (example of a time range)
18. Das 9h às 18h — From 9 am to 6 pm (h after numbers is common on signs)
19. Funciona somente por agendamento — Operates by appointment only
20. Entrada até as — Last entry until (used for museums, cinemas)
21. Adaptado para atendimento contínuo — Open continuously (no breaks)
22. Aberto nos feriados — Open on holidays
23. Fecha mais cedo hoje — Closes earlier today
24. Reabre na segunda-feira — Reopens on Monday
25. Funciona em horário reduzido — Operates on reduced hours
26. Atendimento das 8 às 12 — Service from 8 until 12 (morning only)
27. Atendimento noturno — Night service
28. Aberto 24/7 — Open 24/7 (common in larger cities for convenience stores)
29. Encerramos às — We close at (useful on staff replies)
30. Posso saber o horário de hoje? — Can I know today’s hours?
How to ask politely in real situations
Beginner learners should start with short, polite questions. Use por favor to add politeness and obrigado/obrigada to thank. Listen for opening times on signs where hours are often written numerically with h or using das … às …
Example:
Que horas vocês abrem, por favor?
Excuse me, what time do you open please?
Resposta:
Abrimos às 9h.
We open at 9 am.
Understanding time expressions
Times are commonly written as 9h, 14h, or 18:30. Brazilian Portuguese often uses 24-hour format in formal schedules and 12-hour in casual speech. Use das … às … to say from … to …
Example:
O comércio funciona das 9h às 18h.
The shops operate from 9 am to 6 pm.
Short dialogues for beginners
Dialogue 1 — Asking at a bakery
Cliente: Que horas vocês abrem?
Balconista: Abrimos às 6h30.
Cliente: Obrigada. E até que horas ficam abertos?
Balconista: Fechamos às 20h.
Dialogue 2 — At a pharmacy
Cliente: Vocês estão abertos agora?
Atendente: Sim, estamos abertos até as 23h.
Cliente: Ótimo, obrigado.
Dialogue 3 — Small store with lunch break
Cliente: Vocês têm horário de almoço?
Atendente: Sim, fechamos das 13h às 14h e depois reabrimos até as 18h.
Common replies and signs you will see
Learning to read common signs helps you avoid confusion. Here are typical sign phrases and what they mean:
Aberto — Open
Fechado — Closed
Volto já — Be right back
Voltamos às 14h — We’ll be back at 2 pm
Atendimento por ordem de chegada — Service in order of arrival
Beginner tips and common mistakes
Tip 1: Use por favor to sound polite. Example: Que horas vocês fecham, por favor?
Tip 2: Match obrigado to your gender. Men say obrigado, women say obrigada.
Tip 3: When you see 9h read it as 9:00. When you hear duas da tarde it means 2 pm.
Common mistake 1: Confusing até and antes. Até means until; antes de means before. Example correct: Aberto até as 18h. Wrong: Aberto antes as 18h.
Common mistake 2: Forgetting das … às … for ranges. Say: Das 9h às 18h not 9h às 18h without das in formal contexts.
Practical scenarios and sample sentences
At a mall information desk:
Quando o shopping abre?
When does the mall open?
Resposta:
O shopping abre às 10h e fecha às 22h.
Calling a restaurant to check dinner hours:
Você aceita reservas para jantar às 20h?
Do you take dinner reservations at 8 pm?
Resposta:
Sim, abrimos às 19h e fechamos às 23h.
Checking a bank branch:
Qual o horário da agência hoje?
What are the branch hours today?
Resposta:
Funcionamos das 10h às 16h no sábado.
How to leave a polite voicemail or message
If someone calls you to ask store hours, a short message works well. Keep it simple and clear.
Example message:
Estamos abertos das 9h às 18h. Para mais informações, ligue novamente por favor.
Quick reference cheat sheet
Use these short phrases to keep in your notes or phone. They are practical and easy to memorize.
Que horas abrem?
Até que horas ficam abertos?
Vocês abrem no fim de semana?
Tem horário de almoço?
Reabrem amanhã?
Conclusion
Learning these 30 phrases will make everyday interactions much easier for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. Recognize common signs, practice the short dialogues, and use polite words like por favor and obrigado/obrigada. With these phrases you can confidently check store hours, plan visits, and avoid closed doors while living or traveling in Brazil.
