How to Use “Por volta de” in Portuguese for Approximate Time

Introduction

Learning how to express approximate time is essential for everyday conversation in Portuguese. This article explains how to use por volta de in Brazilian Portuguese to indicate approximate hours, dates, and times of events. Clear examples, grammar rules, and cultural notes will help beginner to intermediate learners sound natural and confident.

What does por volta de mean?

Por volta de is a common Brazilian Portuguese expression used to indicate approximation, usually of time but also of quantities or dates. It corresponds to English phrases like around, about, or approximately. When you want to avoid being exact or you simply do not know the precise time, por volta de is the natural choice.

Basic structure

The structure is simple. Use por volta de followed by a time, date, or number. The phrase is invariable and does not change according to gender or number. Examples:

por volta de 8h
por volta de meia-noite
por volta de terça-feira

Using por volta de with clock times

When speaking about clock times, Brazilians commonly use the 24-hour clock in writing but often use the 12-hour clock in speech with context. With por volta de, place the expression before the time:

Vou chegar por volta de 18h.

Ele acorda por volta de 7h30.

If you want to include minutes, keep the same order:

A reunião começa por volta de 10h15.

Alternative spoken times

In natural speech, Brazilians often say horas (hours) or use phrases like e meia for half past. You can combine those with por volta de:

Ela chega por volta de sete horas.
Voltamos por volta de três e meia.

Using por volta de with parts of the day

When you want to be less specific, you can use parts of the day—manhã, tarde, noite—after the time or instead of it:

O jantar será por volta de 20h, no início da noite.
Vamos nos encontrar por volta de manhã.

Note that saying por volta de manhã is less common than combining an approximate hour with a part of the day: por volta de 9h da manhã.

Using por volta de with dates and days

You can use por volta de for approximate dates or days of the week. This is useful for planning when you do not have a firm date:

Vou visitar minha família por volta de julho.
Ela deve voltar por volta de terça-feira.

When referring to a range within a month, native speakers often use the same structure:

As obras terminam por volta de 15 de agosto.

Using por volta de with quantities and measurements

Although primarily used for time, por volta de also applies to approximate numbers, prices, or measurements:

O ingresso custa por volta de 50 reais.
Havia por volta de cem pessoas na festa.

Remember the phrase stays unchanged even when the noun is plural: por volta de cem pessoas, not por voltas de.

Grammar details and word order

Por volta de functions as a prepositional phrase. It is placed before the noun phrase indicating the time, date, or quantity. The phrase itself is composed of the preposition por, the noun volta, and the preposition de. Despite its multiword form, it behaves like a single adverbial expression in a sentence.

Position in a sentence

You can put por volta de at the beginning, middle, or end of a clause depending on what you want to emphasize. Common positions include directly before the time expression or at the end of the sentence.

Directly before the time: A festa começa por volta de 21h.
As aulas terminam por volta de 17h.
At the end: Chegarei às 19h por volta de.

Placing the phrase at the end is less common and may sound unnatural in some contexts; prefer the pre-time position for clarity.

Negation and questions

To use por volta de in negative sentences or questions, keep the structure intact. The negation or question words do not change the phrase:

Você não vai chegar por volta de 8h?
Não acredito que ele chegue por volta de meia-noite.

Comparing por volta de with similar expressions

Portuguese has several expressions to talk about approximation. Knowing the differences helps you choose the most natural option.

cerca de — more formal than por volta de, used with numbers and dates as well as time: Cerca de 100 pessoas. Cerca de 9h.
mais ou menos — casual, often used in speech: Chego às 6h30, mais ou menos.
aproximadamente — formal and written: O voo chega aproximadamente às 14h.

Por volta de is a neutral option fitting everyday spoken and written Brazilian Portuguese, especially for time and dates.

Pronunciation tips and rhythm

Pronounce the phrase naturally as a unit: por-vol-ta-de, with a light stress on volta. In fast speech, Brazilians often reduce the vowel sounds slightly and link words together: por volta de -> porvolta’de. Practice with example sentences to build rhythm.

Listen for native speakers saying the phrase in podcasts or videos focused on daily routines to model natural timing and intonation.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Avoid inserting articles between por volta and de. Say por volta de 8h, not por volta da 8h.
2. Do not pluralize volta. It is always por volta de, even with plural nouns: por volta de três dias.
3. Avoid mixing up prepositions. For expressions of arrival you might see chegar por volta de 18h, but not chegar em volta de 18h.
4. When using parts of day, prefer da manhã/da tarde/da noite after the time: por volta de 9h da manhã, not por volta de manhã.

Examples in everyday contexts

Here are practical sentences you will hear or use in Brazil. Each paragraph shows a short scenario followed by a sentence.

Planning a meeting:
Vamos marcar a reunião por volta de 14h.

Discussing travel times:
O ônibus passa por volta de 6h30.

Talking about birthday plans:
A festa começa por volta de 20h e vai até tarde.

Estimating costs:
O curso custa por volta de 300 reais por mês.

Scheduling a dentist appointment:
Tenho consulta por volta de 11h da manhã.

Cultural notes: how approximate times are treated in Brazil

Brazilians often use flexible time estimates in social settings. Saying por volta de allows hosts and friends to be polite about starting times without committing to strict punctuality. In formal or professional contexts, however, more precision is expected: meetings, flights, and medical appointments usually require exact times. Use por volta de comfortably for casual plans, but prefer specific times in formal situations.

Practice listening and recognition

To internalize por volta de, listen to everyday Brazilian Portuguese: news bulletins (for approximate dates and times), podcasts about daily life, and conversations in videos. Pay attention to how native speakers place the phrase and how it sounds in fast speech. This will help with both comprehension and natural production.

Quick reference summary

Use por volta de when you want to express approximation. It is followed by a time, date, part of the day, or quantity. The phrase does not change with gender or number. Common alternatives include cerca de, mais ou menos, and aproximadamente, each with slightly different formality and usage. For social plans, por volta de is natural; for formal events, prefer precise times.

Conclusion

Mastering por volta de helps you sound natural when talking about approximate times, dates, and quantities in Brazilian Portuguese. Use it before a time expression, keep the phrase unchanged, and pair it with concrete hours or parts of the day for clarity. Listening to native speech and practicing common examples will make your use of por volta de smooth and confident in everyday conversation.