How to use basic time words in Portuguese sentences

Introduction

Learning basic time words in Brazilian Portuguese helps you talk about schedules, appointments, travel plans, and daily routines. This guide explains common time vocabulary, simple grammar, practical example sentences, and beginner tips so you can start using time words confidently in everyday conversations.

Why time words matter for beginners

Time words let you ask and answer when things happen, read timetables, order food at certain hours, and make plans with friends. They are among the first vocabulary items you will use in real situations like taking public transport, booking a table, or saying what time you wake up.

Basic time vocabulary (Brazilian Portuguese)

horas — hours; used to tell the time

minutos — minutes

meia-noite — midnight

meio-dia — noon

manhã — morning

tarde — afternoon

noite — night / evening

agora — now

hoje — today

amanhã — tomorrow

ontem — yesterday

de manhã — in the morning

de tarde — in the afternoon

de noite — at night

daqui a pouco — in a little while / soon

mais tarde — later

cedo — early

tarde — late

How to say the time of day

Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the 24-hour clock in written schedules, but in conversation people often use the 12-hour system with context words. Use horas after the hour number when stating time precisely.

Examples:

São três horas.

São quinze horas. (15:00 written or official)

É meio-dia.

É meia-noite.

Expressing minutes

To add minutes, put minutos after the number or say e between hour and minutes for minutes past the hour.

São duas e quinze. — 2:15

São sete e meia. — 7:30 (informal; meia means half past)

São oito e dez minutos. — 8:10 (formal: minutos is optional)

Talking about time periods (morning, afternoon, night)

Use de manhã, de tarde, and de noite to clarify which part of the day you mean. These phrases follow the verb or time expression.

Eu trabalho de manhã. — I work in the morning.

O filme começa às 20:00 de noite. — The movie starts at 8:00 p.m.

Nos fins de semana, eu acordo tarde da manhã. — On weekends, I wake up late in the morning.

Common phrases to schedule and ask for times

Need to make appointments or ask when something happens? Learn these beginner-friendly question forms and responses.

Que horas são? — What time is it?

A que horas? — At what time?

Quando é isso? — When is that?

Que horas começa? — What time does it start?

Que horas termina? — What time does it end?

Examples:

A que horas é a reunião? — A que horas é a reunião?

É às nove e meia. — It is at 9:30.

Que horas são? — São cinco e vinte. — It’s 5:20.

Using agora, hoje, amanhã, ontem

These time words are essential for situating events relative to the present.

Use agora to indicate the present moment.

Estou saindo agora. — I am leaving now.

Hoje means today and is used with other time phrases.

Hoje à tarde vou ao mercado. — This afternoon I will go to the market.

Amanhã is tomorrow; it works with specific times.

Vamos nos encontrar amanhã às sete. — Let’s meet tomorrow at 7.

Ontem is yesterday; combine with preterite verbs for past events.

Ontem cheguei cedo. — Yesterday I arrived early.

Prepositions and contractions with time

Prepositions make Portuguese time expressions sound natural. Pay attention to contractions like às and ao.

Use às before a specific hour when the verb implies occurrence at that time.

Às oito. — At eight o’clock.

Use de before parts of the day with definite articles: de manhã, de tarde, de noite.

Use ao with expressions like ao meio-dia and ao amanhecer.

Examples:

Tenho aula às sete da noite. — I have class at seven in the evening.

Almoçamos ao meio-dia. — We have lunch at noon.

Simple verb tenses for time: present and past basics

Beginners can usually use the present tense to talk about scheduled events and the simple past to describe finished events.

Present for scheduled events: Eu chego às cinco. — I arrive at five.

Past (pretérito perfeito) for completed actions: Cheguei às cinco. — I arrived at five.

Practice these forms with time words to make short sentences you’ll use daily.

Practical dialogues and everyday examples

Short, realistic exchanges help you memorize phrases and see how time words fit into conversation.

Na padaria:

Cliente: A que horas abre a padaria? — Cliente: A que horas abre a padaria?

Atendente: Abrimos às seis da manhã. — Atendente: Abrimos às seis da manhã.

No transporte:

Passageiro: Que horas sai o próximo ônibus? — Passageiro: Que horas sai o próximo ônibus?

Motorista: Sai às sete e quinze. — Motorista: Sai às sete e quinze.

Com amigos:

Amigo: Vamos jantar hoje à noite? — Amigo: Vamos jantar hoje à noite?

Você: Sim, às oito está bom? — Você: Sim, às oito está bom?

Common mistakes beginners make

Omitting horas after the hour number can sound unnatural in formal contexts; include horas in full sentences when learning.

Confusing de manhã with pela manhã: de manhã is more common for general statements; pela manhã can also appear but starts to feel more advanced.

Using the 24-hour time in casual speech: Brazilians often use the 12-hour clock in conversation and add da manhã/da tarde/da noite for clarity.

Overusing agora when you mean later: agora means right now, not soon. Use daqui a pouco or mais tarde for near-future plans.

Beginner tips to practice time words

Label your daily routine with times in Portuguese on sticky notes: acordar às 7:00, almoço ao meio-dia, dormir às 23:00.

When reading timetables, try to say times aloud in Portuguese: são quinze horas is 3 pm.

Practice short dialogues from real-life situations like asking store hours or bus departures, using a language partner or app.

Listen for time phrases in Brazilian media and repeat them: hoje, amanhã, às, de manhã.

Quick reference cheat sheet

Que horas são? — What time is it?

São… horas. — It’s … o’clock.

É meio-dia / É meia-noite. — It is noon / midnight.

De manhã / de tarde / de noite — in the morning / afternoon / evening

Amanhã / hoje / ontem — tomorrow / today / yesterday

Conclusion

Mastering basic time words in Brazilian Portuguese gives you the ability to handle schedules, appointments, and everyday conversations. Focus on common vocabulary, simple sentence patterns, and realistic practice like reading timetables and role-playing short dialogs. With these practical examples and tips, you can start using time expressions confidently in real situations.