How to respond in Portuguese when someone asks when you started

Introduction

Knowing how to answer questions about when you started something is essential in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. This article teaches simple, practical ways to respond when someone asks when you started a job, class, hobby, relationship, or other activity. Learn key phrases, vocabulary, natural replies, and short dialogues for beginners.

Why this question matters in conversation

Asking when someone started is a common small-talk topic in Brazil. It helps people connect, show interest, or confirm details like schedules and experience. For beginners, mastering a few simple structures lets you answer clearly and naturally.

Core Portuguese question to recognize

The most common ways to ask when you started are simple and direct. The first time you see the main phrase, it is highlighted for emphasis.

Quando você começou?

Other variations you might hear:

Quando começou?

Desde quando você trabalha aqui?

Desde quando você estuda português?

Key vocabulary and grammar to know

Start with a few important words. These help you build clear answers.

começar — to start, to begin

comecei — I started (preterite)

começei há — I started [time ago]

desde — since, from

há — ago (used with time expressions)

faz — makes/it has been (used colloquially with time)

trabalhar — to work

estudar — to study

morar — to live

How to answer: simple structures

There are three basic ways to respond: state a date or year, say how long ago, or say since when (with a reference point).

1. Date or year (specific moment)

Comecei em janeiro. — I started in January.

Comecei em 2020. — I started in 2020.

2. How long ago (using há or faz)

Comecei há três meses. — I started three months ago.

Comecei faz dois anos. — I started two years ago. (colloquial)

3. Since a specific time (using desde)

Estou aqui desde janeiro. — I’ve been here since January.

Estudo português desde 2023. — I have been studying Portuguese since 2023.

Examples for common situations

Below are realistic beginner-friendly replies for everyday contexts.

At work

Quando você começou a trabalhar aqui?
Comecei em março.

In class

Desde quando você estuda espanhol?
Estudo desde fevereiro.

Hobby or activity

Quando você começou a tocar violão?
Comecei há seis meses.

Living somewhere

Desde quando você mora no Rio?
Moro aqui desde 2019.

Short dialogues: practical beginner examples

These short dialogues show natural flow. Use them in real conversations or roleplay.

Dialogue 1 — job

— Você trabalha aqui há muito tempo?
— Na verdade não. Comecei há três meses.

Dialogue 2 — class

— Quando você começou o curso?
— Comecei em agosto. E você?

Dialogue 3 — hobby

— Desde quando você faz yoga?
— Faço yoga desde janeiro. Me ajuda a relaxar.

Useful time expressions and numbers

Pair these with começar, começar há, or desde to make accurate answers.

manhã — morning

ontem — yesterday

hoje — today

semana passada — last week

mês passado — last month

ano passado — last year

agora — now

um mês, dois meses, três meses — one month, two months, three months

um ano, dois anos — one year, two years

Polite and natural variations

Small changes make replies more natural or polite. Add a brief reason or feeling if you want to expand your answer.

Comecei em abril, foi uma ótima experiência. — I started in April; it was a great experience.

Comecei há pouco tempo, ainda estou aprendendo. — I started recently; I’m still learning.

Estou aqui desde janeiro, e gosto muito. — I have been here since January, and I like it a lot.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake: using desde with a length of time instead of a starting point. Use desde with a date or point in time and há for duration.

Incorrect: Desde três meses.

Correct: Há três meses. or Desde janeiro.

Mistake: forgetting preposition when using months or years. Use em before months or years.

Incorrect: Comecei janeiro.

Correct: Comecei em janeiro.

Mistake: using present perfect directly as in English. Brazilians often use preterite or constructions with desde/há.

Prefer: Comecei em 2022. or Estou aqui desde 2022.

Tips to sound natural as a beginner

Keep answers short and clear at first. Use numbers and common time words. Mirror the question style: if someone asks Desde quando?, reply with Desde… or if they ask Quando começou?, reply with Comecei em…. Add a simple phrase about how you feel if you want to extend the conversation.

More real-life sample replies

Short and useful responses you can memorize.

Comecei ontem.

Comecei hoje de manhã.

Comecei em julho.

Comecei há duas semanas.

Estou aqui desde 2018.

Estudo desde março.

Putting it together: a mini scenario

Imagine meeting a new coworker in Brazil. A short conversation might go like this:

— Oi, tudo bem? Você trabalha aqui há quanto tempo?
— Oi! Tudo bem. Comecei há seis meses. E você?
— Estou aqui desde janeiro.

This exchange uses natural phrasing and shows how to use há and desde in the same conversation.

Practice suggestion for quick improvement

Practice by answering simple questions about your own life in short sentences. Record or say aloud three answers: one with a month or date, one with há plus a duration, and one with desde plus a year or month. Keep the sentences short and clear.

Conclusion

Learning to respond when someone asks when you started is practical and easy for beginners. Focus on three patterns — specific date, duration with há or faz, and starting point with desde — and pair them with common time expressions. Memorize a few short replies and practice the mini dialogues to build confidence in real conversations.