How to say “Now”, “Later”, and “Before” in Portuguese basics

Introduction

Learning how to say simple time words like now, later, and before in Brazilian Portuguese is one of the fastest ways to start understanding everyday conversations and schedules. This article explains basic vocabulary, common phrases, pronunciation tips, and practical examples you can use right away.

Core vocabulary: now, later, before

Start with the three essential words.

agora — now. Use this to talk about the present moment or immediate actions.

depois — later, after. Use this for events that will happen following a reference time.

antes — before. Use this for events that happened earlier than a reference time.

Short notes on tone and placement

In Brazilian Portuguese, these words are usually placed near the verb or at the end of the sentence, similar to English. Word order and simple prepositions like em, de, or do can change meaning slightly, so pay attention to examples below.

Using agora in practical situations

agora is the go-to word for immediate needs, current states, or to emphasize the present. It is frequently used in daily conversation, announcements, and signs.

Simple examples a beginner will hear or use:

Estou ocupado agora.
Estoy ocupado ahora means I am busy now.

Posso falar agora?
May I speak now?

Agora não, por favor.
Not now, please.

Agora mesmo — a common emphatic phrase meaning right now or immediately.

Chegue agora mesmo.
Arrive right now.

Common contexts for agora

Service counters, stores, and messaging:

Disponível agora.
Available now.

Estou saindo agora.
I’m leaving now.

Use agora to express urgency, immediate availability, or the present moment in short, natural sentences.

Using depois: later and after

depois covers both later in time and after in sequence. It is versatile and common for scheduling and casual planning.

Basic examples:

Falo com você depois.
I’ll talk to you later.

Vamos tomar café depois do trabalho.
Let’s have coffee after work.

Estudo depois do almoço.
I study after lunch.

Use depois with de + definite article when specifying after something: depois do, depois da.

After vs later: small differences

depois can mean after something specific or later more generally. Compare these two beginner-friendly examples:

Depois do filme, vamos jantar.
After the movie, let’s have dinner.

Te ligo depois.
I’ll call you later.

When combining with a time expression, place the time after depois or use depois de + noun for clarity.

Using antes: before and earlier

antes expresses that something occurs prior to a reference point in time. It’s essential for talking about deadlines, appointments, and past arrangements.

Beginner examples you will see or use:

Chegue 10 minutos antes.
Arrive 10 minutes earlier.

Eu comi antes de sair.
I ate before leaving.

Antes das nove.
Before nine o’clock.

Use antes with de + definite article for specific contexts: antes do, antes da.

Common phrases with antes

Often used in schedules and instructions:

Assine antes de enviar.
Sign before sending.

Faça isso antes de dormir.
Do this before sleeping.

These examples are realistic lines you might see on forms, signs, or receive as advice from a teacher or colleague.

Combining agora, depois, antes in longer sentences

Beginner learners benefit from seeing how these words work together to describe sequences.

Example 1:

Agora vou trabalhar, depois almoço, e antes de dormir vou estudar.
Now I’m going to work, later I have lunch, and before sleeping I’ll study.

Example 2:

Chegamos agora; podemos sair de novo mais tarde, mas não antes das oito.
We arrived now; we can go out again later, but not before eight.

These sentences show natural placement and how to switch between present, future, and past references in one line.

Time expressions that use agora, depois, antes

Common collocations and small phrases to memorize:

agora mesmo — right now

daqui a pouco — in a little while, soon (useful alternative to depois)

mais tarde — later on, later today

antes de — before (followed by verb or noun)

depois de — after (followed by verb or noun)

Examples:

Ele chega daqui a pouco.
He arrives in a little while.

Faço isso mais tarde.
I’ll do that later on.

Note on daqui a pouco

Daqui a pouco is very useful for near future events and is a natural alternative to depois when you mean soon rather than later that day or later in general.

Useful beginner tips and pronunciation help

Pronunciation basics:

agora — stress on the second syllable: a-GO-ra. The g sounds like the g in get.

depois — stress on the second syllable: de-POIS. The oi sounds like the oy in boy.

antes — stress on the first syllable: AN-tes. The a is open like in father.

Practical tips for learners:

1. Say the time words out loud in short, real phrases like Estou aqui agora or Te vejo depois.

2. Use simple connectors: antes de + verb (antes de sair), depois de + noun (depois do almoço).

3. Listen for context: in announcements, agora often signals immediacy; in plans, depois and mais tarde indicate future times; in schedules, antes marks deadlines.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake 1: Mixing antes and antes de incorrectly.

Incorrect: Saí antes ir.
Correct: Saí antes de ir.
Remember to use antes de before verbs.

Mistake 2: Using depois without de when you need a reference noun.

Incorrect: Vou ao cinema depois filme.
Correct: Vou ao cinema depois do filme.
Add do or da when attaching a noun.

Mistake 3: Overusing agora when you mean soon or later.

Use daqui a pouco or mais tarde when the action is not immediate.

Short practice exercises for beginners

Translate to Portuguese:

1. I’ll call you later.
Answer: Vou te ligar depois.

2. Do it before lunch.
Answer: Faça isso antes do almoço.

3. I’m coming now.
Answer: Estou vindo agora.

Fill-in-the-blank:

Chegue _____ das oito.
Answer: antes

Nos vemos _____.
Answer: depois

These short exercises reinforce correct prepositions and word order.

Real-life scenarios where these words are essential

At a restaurant: The waiter might say Volto agora, which means I’ll be right back now, or Marco o pedido e volto depois, meaning I’ll place the order and come back later.

On public transport or schedules: The sign might say Próximo ônibus agora or Saída antes das 18h on a timetable. Understanding before and after makes reading schedules easier.

In messaging: Brazilians often text Vou sair agora, Te vejo depois, or Já fiz isso antes to indicate timing concisely.

Quick reference list

agora — now

agora mesmo — right now

depois — later, after

mais tarde — later on

daqui a pouco — soon, in a little while

antes — before

antes de — before + verb

depois de — after + noun or verb

Conclusion

Mastering agora, depois, and antes gives you immediate tools to describe time in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. Use short, realistic sentences, pay attention to prepositions like de and do/da, and practice with simple messages, schedules, and service interactions to build confidence quickly.