Introduction
Learning how to talk about time is essential for everyday Brazilian Portuguese conversations. This guide introduces 30 useful phrases and expressions for asking the time, scheduling, talking about durations, and using common words you will hear in stores, buses, restaurants, and messages. All examples use Brazilian Portuguese with clear English explanations for beginners.
Basic time questions and answers
Start with simple ways to ask and tell the time. These are the building blocks for appointments and schedules.
Que horas são? – What time is it?
Que horas você tem? – What time do you have on your phone/watch?
É uma hora. – It is one o’clock.
São duas horas. – It is two o’clock.
São três e meia. – It is half past three (3:30).
São quatro e quinze. – It is four fifteen (4:15).
How to say minutes
Portuguese often uses e (and) to connect hours and minutes. For minutes past the hour use e, for minutes to the hour use para or menos.
São cinco e dez. – It is five ten (5:10).
São oito e vinte. – It is eight twenty (8:20).
Faltam dez para as seis. – It is ten to six (5:50).
Common scheduling phrases
Use these when making appointments, accepting or rescheduling plans.
Vamos marcar às três? – Shall we schedule it for three?
Que tal às sete da noite? – How about seven in the evening?
Posso às nove? – Can I do nine?
Desculpe, precisei remarcar. – Sorry, I had to reschedule.
Confirmado para amanhã às dez. – Confirmed for tomorrow at ten.
Using parts of the day
Parts of the day help specify morning, afternoon, or evening and are commonly used in Brazilian Portuguese.
de manhã – in the morning
de tarde – in the afternoon
de noite – at night / in the evening
Vamos almoçar de tarde? – Shall we have lunch in the afternoon?
O filme começa de noite. – The movie starts in the evening.
Talking about duration
These phrases express how long something lasts, which is useful for travel, work, and appointments.
Dura uma hora. – It lasts one hour.
Vai demorar vinte minutos. – It will take twenty minutes.
Fiquei lá por três horas. – I stayed there for three hours.
Quanto tempo leva? – How long does it take?
Leva cerca de meia hora. – It takes about half an hour.
Expressing frequency
Talk about how often events happen with these beginner-friendly expressions.
Todo dia – every day
Toda semana – every week
Uma vez por mês – once a month
Eu vou ao mercado todo sábado. – I go to the market every Saturday.
Polite time-related phrases for services
Useful when interacting with staff at stores, restaurants, clinics, or public transport.
Você aceita agendamento? – Do you accept appointments?
Preciso de um horário amanhã. – I need a time slot tomorrow.
Qual é o horário de funcionamento? – What are the opening hours?
O horário de funcionamento é das oito às dezessete. – The opening hours are from eight to seventeen (8:00 to 17:00).
Tem vaga para às quinze horas? – Is there availability for three p.m.?
Public transport and travel
Time phrases you will hear at bus stations, airports, and train stations.
O ônibus passa às sete e meia. – The bus passes at seven thirty.
O voo sai às onze. – The flight departs at eleven.
Chegamos em cerca de três horas. – We arrive in about three hours.
Qual é o horário do próximo trem? – What is the schedule of the next train?
Making plans and confirming details
Short phrases for friends, colleagues, and casual scheduling.
Nos encontramos às seis? – Do we meet at six?
Vou chegar atrasado. – I will arrive late.
Posso chegar mais cedo? – Can I arrive earlier?
Te vejo amanhã de manhã. – See you tomorrow morning.
Short dialogues for beginners
Dialogues show how phrases are used naturally. Read them aloud to practice rhythm and pronunciation.
— Que horas são?
— São duas e quinze.
— Vamos marcar o encontro?
— Sim, às cinco da tarde funciona para você?
— O ônibus já saiu?
— Não, ainda falta dez minutos.
Useful verbs and vocabulary
Key verbs and nouns related to time that beginners should learn and recognize.
chegar – to arrive
sair – to leave / to depart
começar – to start
terminar – to finish
horário – schedule / timetable / hour
tempo – time / weather (context matters)
Common mistakes and beginner tips
Short tips to avoid common errors when talking about time in Brazilian Portuguese.
Tip: Use e to add minutes after the hour, for example três e quinze for 3:15. Do not use a colon like in English when speaking aloud.
Tip: For minutes to the hour you can say faltam or use para or menos, for example faltam dez para as seis or seis menos dez.
Tip: Use 24-hour style in formal schedules like transportation and menus: restaurants may list 18:30 on a menu, but in conversation say seis e meia da noite.
Tip: Pay attention to de manhã, de tarde, de noite to avoid saying the wrong time of day.
Practical real-life examples
Everyday examples you can use or recognize in shops, messages, and travel.
Text message: Chego às 19:00. Te ligo quando estiver chegando. – I’ll arrive at 7:00 PM. I’ll call you when I’m arriving.
Restaurant sign: Aberto das 11 às 22 – Open from 11 to 22.
Bus info: Próximo ônibus: 14:45 – Next bus: 2:45 PM.
Doctor appointment: Consulta às 10:30 na recepção 2 – Appointment at 10:30 at reception 2.
How to practice these phrases
Simple, realistic ways to build confidence using time phrases.
Tip: Check the time and say it aloud in Portuguese to make it habitual.
Tip: When making appointments ask and confirm time using full expressions like Confirmado para amanhã às dez?
Tip: Listen for schedule announcements on buses or trains and repeat the phrase you hear.
Conclusion
Mastering these 30 Portuguese phrases about time will help you manage appointments, travel, and daily conversations in Brazilian Portuguese. Practice with the dialogues and real-life examples until telling time and scheduling feel natural. Use the vocabulary and tips to avoid common errors and build confidence in everyday situations.
