Portuguese Phrases for Talking About Time

Introduction

Time expressions form the backbone of everyday Portuguese conversation. Whether you’re scheduling a meeting, discussing your daily routine, or simply asking what time it is, mastering time-related phrases opens doors to natural, fluid communication. This comprehensive guide explores essential Portuguese vocabulary and expressions for discussing time, from basic clock times to complex temporal concepts that will elevate your language skills.

Asking What Time It Is

One of the first time-related phrases you’ll need in Portuguese is how to ask for the current time. The most common way to ask Que horas são? literally translates to What hours are they? Notice the plural form, which differs from English. Portuguese treats time as plural entities rather than a singular concept.

An alternative, slightly more formal version is Poderia me dizer que horas são? meaning Could you tell me what time it is? This polite form works well when addressing strangers or in professional settings.

For a more casual approach among friends, Brazilians often simply say Que horas? dropping the verb entirely. Context makes the meaning clear, and this abbreviated form flows naturally in informal conversations.

Telling Time in Portuguese

Full Hours

When responding to time inquiries, Portuguese uses distinct structures depending on whether you’re stating one o’clock or other hours. For one o’clock, you’ll say É uma hora using the singular form é (it is) and uma (one). This reflects that only one hour has passed.

For all other hours, use the plural construction São followed by the number and horas. For example, São duas horas (It’s two o’clock), São três horas (It’s three o’clock), continuing through São doze horas (It’s twelve o’clock).

Minutes Past the Hour

Adding minutes requires the conjunction e (and) between hours and minutes. The structure follows: São + hour + e + minutes. For instance, São três e quinze means It’s three fifteen, while São sete e trinta indicates It’s seven thirty.

Brazilians commonly use meia (half) instead of trinta (thirty) for half-past expressions. Saying São quatro e meia is more natural than São quatro e trinta when expressing 4:30. This shortened form appears frequently in everyday speech.

Quarter hours have their own special term: quinze for fifteen minutes. However, you’ll also hear um quarto (a quarter) used similarly to English. Both São duas e quinze and São duas e um quarto correctly express 2:15.

Minutes Before the Hour

Portuguese offers two methods for expressing minutes before the hour. The first uses para (to/until) or para as followed by the upcoming hour. For 6:45, you can say Quinze para as sete (Fifteen to seven) or Um quarto para as sete (A quarter to seven).

The second method uses menos (minus/less), though this appears less frequently in Brazilian Portuguese. You might hear Sete menos quinze for 6:45, but the para construction sounds more natural to Brazilian ears.

Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Distinctions

Portuguese divides the day into specific periods, each with its own greeting and time designation. Understanding these divisions helps you communicate more precisely about when events occur.

Da manhã (in the morning) covers the period from sunrise until noon. When specifying morning times, add da manhã after the time: São oito da manhã (It’s eight in the morning). This period corresponds to the greeting Bom dia (Good morning).

Da tarde (in the afternoon) extends from noon until sunset, roughly until 6 PM in Brazil. Times during this period take the da tarde marker: São três da tarde (It’s three in the afternoon). People greet each other with Boa tarde (Good afternoon) during these hours.

Da noite (at night) begins after sunset and continues until bedtime or midnight. Evening times use this marker: São oito da noite (It’s eight at night). The greeting Boa noite (Good evening/Good night) applies throughout this period.

For late night hours after midnight, you’ll use da madrugada (in the early morning/dawn). This special period covers roughly midnight to sunrise. Saying São duas da madrugada clearly indicates 2 AM, distinguishing it from 2 PM.

Days, Weeks, and Months

Days of the Week

Portuguese weekday names derive from religious origins, with most following a numbered pattern. Segunda-feira (Monday) begins the week, followed by terça-feira (Tuesday), quarta-feira (Wednesday), quinta-feira (Thursday), and sexta-feira (Friday). The weekend consists of sábado (Saturday) and domingo (Sunday).

When discussing events on specific days, use the preposition na (on the) before weekdays: na segunda-feira (on Monday), na terça-feira (on Tuesday). For Saturday and Sunday, you’ll say no sábado and no domingo due to their masculine gender.

To express habitual actions occurring on a particular weekday, use the plural form with the definite article: às segundas-feiras (on Mondays), às terças-feiras (on Tuesdays). This construction indicates recurring events: Eu estudo às quartas-feiras (I study on Wednesdays).

Month Names and Dates

Portuguese months closely resemble their English counterparts: janeiro (January), fevereiro (February), março (March), abril (April), maio (May), junho (June), julho (July), agosto (August), setembro (September), outubro (October), novembro (November), and dezembro (December). Unlike English, Portuguese months aren’t capitalized unless starting a sentence.

When stating dates, Portuguese uses the pattern: day + de + month + de + year. For example, 15 de março de 2024 (March 15, 2024). When speaking, you’d say quinze de março de dois mil e vinte e quatro. Notice the word de connecting all elements.

The first day of any month uses the ordinal number primeiro rather than cardinal numbers: primeiro de janeiro (January first). All other days use regular numbers: dois de janeiro (January second), três de janeiro (January third), and so on.

Expressing Past, Present, and Future

Present Time Expressions

Several phrases help you discuss current moments. Agora (now) indicates the immediate present: Eu estou ocupado agora (I’m busy now). For broader current time references, use atualmente (currently/nowadays) or hoje em dia (these days): Atualmente, eu moro no Brasil (Currently, I live in Brazil).

When emphasizing this precise moment, Brazilians often say agora mesmo (right now) or neste momento (at this moment). These phrases add urgency or precision to statements: Estou saindo agora mesmo (I’m leaving right now).

The word hoje (today) appears constantly in daily conversation. You can specify times within today using combinations: hoje de manhã (this morning), hoje à tarde (this afternoon), hoje à noite (tonight).

Past Time References

Discussing the past requires various temporal markers. Ontem (yesterday) forms the foundation for recent past references. You can specify: ontem de manhã (yesterday morning), ontem à tarde (yesterday afternoon), ontem à noite (last night).

For the day before yesterday, Portuguese has a single word: anteontem. This useful term eliminates the need for longer phrases: Eu vi Maria anteontem (I saw Maria the day before yesterday).

Weeks and months in the past use specific constructions. Semana passada (last week), mês passado (last month), and ano passado (last year) follow the pattern of noun + passado/passada. The feminine/masculine agreement depends on the noun’s gender.

When discussing how long ago something occurred, use há plus the time period: há dois dias (two days ago), há três semanas (three weeks ago), há cinco anos (five years ago). This structure elegantly expresses elapsed time.

For general past reference without specific timing, antigamente (formerly/in the past) and no passado (in the past) work well: Antigamente, as coisas eram diferentes (In the past, things were different).

Future Time Expressions

Looking ahead, amanhã (tomorrow) serves as the basic future marker. Like hoje and ontem, it combines with time periods: amanhã de manhã (tomorrow morning), amanhã à tarde (tomorrow afternoon), amanhã à noite (tomorrow night).

The day after tomorrow has its own word: depois de amanhã. While longer than English’s overmorrow, this phrase flows naturally in Portuguese speech: Vou viajar depois de amanhã (I’ll travel the day after tomorrow).

Future weeks, months, and years follow a different pattern than past ones. Próxima semana (next week), próximo mês (next month), and próximo ano (next year) use próximo/próxima with gender agreement. Alternatively, you can say semana que vem (the week that comes), mês que vem, or ano que vem.

For time periods in the future, use em or daqui a: em dois dias or daqui a dois dias (in two days), em três semanas or daqui a três semanas (in three weeks). Both constructions appear frequently in Brazilian Portuguese.

Duration and Time Periods

Expressing how long something lasts requires specific structures. The preposition por indicates duration: Estudei por duas horas (I studied for two hours), Morei em São Paulo por cinco anos (I lived in São Paulo for five years).

When discussing ongoing duration that continues to the present, use há with the present tense: Moro aqui há três anos (I’ve lived here for three years). This differs from English’s present perfect, using simple present tense instead.

To ask about duration, say Quanto tempo? (How long?) or Por quanto tempo? (For how long?): Quanto tempo você estudou português? (How long have you studied Portuguese?)

The phrase durante (during) specifies when something occurs: durante a semana (during the week), durante o verão (during the summer), durante as férias (during vacation). This preposition helps establish temporal context for actions.

Frequency Expressions

Describing how often events occur adds depth to your Portuguese. Sempre (always) indicates constant occurrence: Sempre acordo cedo (I always wake up early). Its opposite, nunca (never), expresses absence: Nunca como carne (I never eat meat).

Between these extremes lie various frequency markers. Frequentemente (frequently) and muitas vezes (many times/often) suggest regular occurrence: Vou ao cinema frequentemente (I go to the cinema frequently). For less frequent events, use às vezes (sometimes) or de vez em quando (from time to time).

Specific time intervals use cada (each/every): cada dia (each day), cada semana (each week), cada mês (each month). You can also say todos os dias (every day), todas as semanas (every week), showing slight nuance between the constructions.

Daily divisions create precise frequency statements: uma vez por dia (once a day), duas vezes por semana (twice a week), três vezes por mês (three times a month). This pattern of number + vezes + por + time period appears across many contexts.

Sequence and Order in Time

Connecting events chronologically requires transition words. Primeiro (first), depois (then/after), and finalmente (finally) create clear sequences: Primeiro, acordei. Depois, tomei café. Finalmente, saí de casa (First, I woke up. Then, I had coffee. Finally, I left home).

The word antes (before) establishes precedence: antes do almoço (before lunch), antes da reunião (before the meeting). When followed by de and an infinitive verb, it means before doing: antes de sair (before leaving).

Similarly, depois de (after) indicates subsequent timing: depois do jantar (after dinner), depois de trabalhar (after working). These prepositions help construct complex temporal relationships between actions.

For simultaneous actions, use enquanto (while): Ouço música enquanto estudo (I listen to music while I study). Another option is ao mesmo tempo (at the same time): Podemos fazer as duas coisas ao mesmo tempo (We can do both things at the same time).

Punctuality and Lateness

Discussing timing precision uses several key phrases. Na hora (on time) and pontualmente (punctually) indicate exact timing: Cheguei na hora (I arrived on time), A reunião começa pontualmente às 9h (The meeting starts punctually at 9 AM).

When running behind schedule, say Estou atrasado (I’m late) for masculine speakers or Estou atrasada for feminine speakers. To specify how late, add minutos or horas: Estou quinze minutos atrasado (I’m fifteen minutes late).

Early arrival uses adiantado/adiantada or cedo: Cheguei adiantado (I arrived early), Acordei cedo (I woke up early). Brazilian culture generally shows flexibility with timing in social contexts, though professional settings expect punctuality.

Seasons and Climate Timing

Brazil’s seasons occur opposite to Northern Hemisphere patterns. Verão (summer) runs from December to March, outono (fall) from March to June, inverno (winter) from June to September, and primavera (spring) from September to December.

When discussing seasonal timing, use no before masculine seasons and na before primavera: no verão (in summer), no inverno (in winter), na primavera (in spring). The phrase durante o also works: durante o outono (during fall).

Climate variations across Brazil’s vast territory mean seasonal descriptions vary regionally. Northern Brazil experiences minimal temperature variation, while southern regions show more distinct seasonal changes. Understanding these geographical differences enhances cultural awareness.

Time-Related Verbs and Actions

Certain verbs frequently appear in time contexts. Demorar (to take time/to delay) describes duration: O ônibus demora muito (The bus takes a long time), Quanto tempo demora? (How long does it take?).

The verb passar (to pass/to spend) relates to time passage: O tempo passa rápido (Time passes quickly), Passei o fim de semana em casa (I spent the weekend at home). This versatile verb appears in numerous temporal expressions.

To wait, use esperar: Esperei por uma hora (I waited for an hour). For saving or wasting time, say economizar tempo (to save time) or perder tempo (to waste time): Vou economizar tempo se pegar o metrô (I’ll save time if I take the subway).

Common Time Idioms and Expressions

Portuguese contains colorful time-related idioms enriching everyday speech. De vez em quando (from time to time) appears frequently: Visito meus avós de vez em quando (I visit my grandparents from time to time).

The expression às pressas (in a hurry) describes rushed actions: Saí de casa às pressas (I left home in a hurry). When something happens rarely, say de vez em nunca (hardly ever) or quase nunca (almost never).

For immediate timing, Brazilians use já (already/right away): Vou fazer isso já (I’ll do that right away). When emphasizing quickness, add rapidinho (really quick): Volto rapidinho (I’ll be back really quick).

The phrase até agora (until now/so far) indicates continuation to the present: Até agora, tudo está bem (So far, everything is fine). For indefinite future timing, use um dia (one day/someday): Um dia vou visitar Portugal (Someday I’ll visit Portugal).

24-Hour Clock Format

While casual conversation typically uses 12-hour time with period markers, formal contexts often employ 24-hour format. Transportation schedules, official documents, and business communications frequently display times like 14h30 (14:30 or 2:30 PM) or 20h00 (20:00 or 8:00 PM).

Reading 24-hour times aloud simply requires stating the numbers: quatorze e trinta (fourteen thirty), vinte horas (twenty hours). The letter h between hours and minutes stands for horas, though it’s pronounced when reading times aloud.

Train and bus stations display departure times using this format: Partida: 18h45 (Departure: 18:45). Flight times, medical appointments, and formal meeting invitations similarly prefer 24-hour notation for clarity and precision.

Approximate Time Expressions

Sometimes precision isn’t necessary or possible. Mais ou menos (more or less/approximately) indicates rough timing: São mais ou menos três horas (It’s approximately three o’clock). The word cerca de (about/around) serves similarly: Chego em cerca de vinte minutos (I’ll arrive in about twenty minutes).

For very approximate timing, use por volta de (around/approximately): Vou sair por volta das sete (I’ll leave around seven). This phrase allows flexibility in scheduling without committing to exact times.

When you can’t specify exact timing, algum tempo (some time) or um tempo (a while) work well: Morei lá por algum tempo (I lived there for some time). These vague references suit situations where precision isn’t important or isn’t known.

Time in Questions and Answers

Beyond asking what time it is, many questions involve temporal elements. Quando? (When?) forms the foundation: Quando você vai viajar? (When will you travel?). Answers might use any previously discussed time expressions: Na próxima semana (Next week), Em julho (In July), Daqui a dois meses (In two months).

To ask how long something takes, use Quanto tempo demora? or Quanto tempo leva? Both mean How long does it take? Responses specify duration: Demora duas horas (It takes two hours), Leva meia hora (It takes half an hour).

For asking about frequency, say Com que frequência? (How often?) or Quantas vezes? (How many times?): Com que frequência você treina? (How often do you train?). Answers employ frequency expressions: Três vezes por semana (Three times a week), Todo dia (Every day).

Cultural Context and Regional Variations

Brazilian culture approaches time with notable flexibility compared to some other cultures. Social gatherings often start later than scheduled, and the concept of horário brasileiro (Brazilian time) acknowledges this cultural tendency toward relaxed punctuality.

However, professional contexts generally expect Western-style punctuality. Business meetings, medical appointments, and academic commitments require timely arrival. Understanding these contextual differences helps navigate Brazilian social norms appropriately.

Regional variations exist in informal time expressions. Some Brazilians say de tarde instead of à tarde, particularly in casual speech. Colloquialisms vary by region, though standard forms work universally and ensure clear communication.

Meal times in Brazil differ from North American or European patterns. Café da manhã (breakfast) typically occurs between 6-8 AM, almoço (lunch) around noon to 2 PM, and jantar (dinner) between 7-9 PM. Many Brazilians also enjoy lanche da tarde (afternoon snack) around 4-5 PM.

Practical Application in Daily Life

Mastering time expressions transforms everyday interactions. Making appointments requires phrases like Podemos marcar para (Can we schedule for): Podemos marcar para terça-feira às três? (Can we schedule for Tuesday at three?)

When confirming timing, use Está bom para você? (Is that good for you?) or Funciona para você? (Does that work for you?). These polite phrases facilitate scheduling conversations smoothly.

Discussing daily routines extensively uses time expressions: Acordo às sete, trabalho das nove às seis, e durmo por volta das onze (I wake up at seven, work from nine to six, and sleep around eleven). The prepositions às (at), das (from), and até (until) structure these statements.

Advanced Time Concepts

More sophisticated temporal discussions require additional vocabulary. Prazo (deadline) appears in professional contexts: O prazo é sexta-feira (The deadline is Friday). Related terms include data limite (deadline/limit date) and vencimento (due date/expiration).

The concept of antecipação (anticipation/advance) describes doing something ahead of schedule: Vou pagar com antecipação (I’ll pay in advance). Conversely, adiamento (postponement) indicates delay: Houve um adiamento da reunião (There was a postponement of the meeting).

When discussing time spans, período (period), intervalo (interval), and fase (phase) provide nuance: durante este período (during this period), com intervalos regulares (at regular intervals), nesta fase do projeto (in this phase of the project).

Conclusion

Time expressions permeate Portuguese communication, from simple clock times to complex temporal relationships. This comprehensive exploration has covered essential phrases for asking and telling time, expressing past and future events, discussing duration and frequency, and navigating cultural contexts. By internalizing these patterns and practicing regularly, you’ll develop natural fluency in discussing time, enabling more sophisticated conversations and deeper cultural understanding. Continue practicing these expressions in real-world contexts, and you’ll find your confidence growing with each interaction.