Introduction
Leaving a place smoothly and politely often involves talking about time: when you will leave, how long you’ll be, and confirming schedules. This article gives English-speaking learners practical Brazilian Portuguese phrases and short dialogues for discussing time before leaving, from casual goodbyes to arranging departures. Terms are presented with usage notes and examples you can start using right away.
Basic phrases to announce departure
Start with simple, clear phrases to say you are about to leave. These are common in daily life and polite in both formal and informal settings.
Vou sair agora
Use this to say you are leaving now. It is direct and neutral.
Vou sair em cinco minutos
I will leave in five minutes.
Estou indo
A casual way to announce you’re heading out.
Estou indo para o trabalho
I’m heading out to work.
Preciso ir
A polite, slightly urgent way to say you need to go.
Preciso ir embora já
I need to leave already.
Polite goodbyes and time-related closings
When leaving social gatherings, work, or meetings, these expressions help close conversations with time references.
Tenho que ir agora
Common and polite: I have to go now.
Tenho que ir, a reunião começa às duas
I have to go, the meeting starts at two.
Vou pegar o ônibus em breve
Good for indicating a specific transportation time.
Vou pegar o ônibus em quinze minutos
I will catch the bus in fifteen minutes.
Asking about schedules and departure times
Questions about schedules are essential. Use these phrases to confirm times or ask when someone else is leaving.
A que horas você sai?
Directly ask what time someone leaves.
A que horas você sai do trabalho hoje
What time do you leave work today?
Quando você vai sair?
Slightly more casual; useful in conversations with friends.
Quando você vai sair para a festa
When are you leaving for the party?
Quanto tempo vai demorar?
Ask about expected duration before leaving.
Quanto tempo vai demorar para você se arrumar
How long will it take for you to get ready?
Confirming and negotiating times
You often need to confirm departure times or propose alternatives. These phrases help you agree or reschedule politely.
Podemos sair às sete?
Propose a specific departure time.
Podemos sair às sete, assim pegamos menos trânsito
Can we leave at seven, so we avoid traffic?
Que tal sairmos mais cedo?
Suggest leaving earlier.
Que tal sairmos mais cedo, tipo às seis e meia
How about leaving earlier, like at six-thirty?
Prefiro sair um pouco mais tarde
Express preference to leave later.
Prefiro sair às oito, está tudo bem para você
I prefer to leave at eight, is that okay for you?
Talking about arrival and meeting times
Often you’ll leave with a plan to meet someone later. These phrases help set meeting times and describe arrival windows.
Chego em meia hora
Use to say how long until you arrive.
Chego em meia hora, espere por mim na entrada
I’ll arrive in half an hour, wait for me at the entrance.
Vamos nos encontrar às nove
Set a meeting time with friends or colleagues.
Vamos nos encontrar às nove em frente ao cinema
Let’s meet at nine in front of the cinema.
Chego por volta de oito
A useful phrase to give an approximate arrival time.
Chego por volta de oito, não se preocupe
I’ll get there around eight, don’t worry.
Short dialogues for different situations
Short, natural dialogues help you hear how phrases connect in real conversations. Each example uses time phrases for leaving and meeting.
Casual with a friend:
A: Tenho que ir agora
B: Ah, que pena. Que horas você volta?
A: Volto às oito.
Work setting:
A: Vou sair cedo hoje
B: Por que? Tudo bem?
A: Tenho médico às cinco. Saio às três.
Leaving a party:
A: Estou indo, foi ótimo
B: Tchau! A que horas você sai amanhã?
A: Saio às dez.
Time expressions and numbers
Knowing how to say times and durations in Portuguese is essential. Below are key expressions and example sentences.
Meia hora / um quarto de hora
Half an hour and a quarter hour are common duration terms.
Chego em meia hora
I will arrive in half an hour.
Uma hora / duas horas
Use these for full hours and durations.
Fico uma hora no café
I will stay one hour at the café.
Às + hour (telling clock time)
When stating exact times, use às followed by the hour.
Saímos às sete e quinze
We left at 7:15.
Em ponto
Use to indicate exactly on the hour.
Saio às seis em ponto
I leave at six sharp.
Common verbs and useful constructions
These verbs appear often when talking about leaving and time. Knowing them helps you form many useful sentences.
Sair (to leave)
One of the most important verbs when talking about departures.
Vou sair agora
I will leave now.
Ir (to go)
Often used with destinations and times.
Estou indo para casa às sete
I’m going home at seven.
Voltar (to return)
Useful when indicating return time.
Volto mais tarde, por volta das nove
I’ll be back later, around nine.
Demorar (to take time/to be delayed)
Use this to ask how long something will take or to warn of delays.
Vai demorar muito?
Will it take long?
Useful idiomatic expressions
Idioms add naturalness. These are used often in Brazil when talking about leaving or timing.
Dar o fora
A casual phrase meaning to get out of somewhere or leave. Use only in informal contexts.
Vou dar o fora, tchau pessoal
I’m going to get out of here, bye everyone.
Ir embora
A common, slightly more formal way to say leave.
Preciso ir embora agora
I need to leave now.
Fazer hora
Means to kill time or wait until it’s time to leave.
Vou fazer hora no café até o trem chegar
I’ll kill time at the café until the train arrives.
Politeness and register
Adjusting tone is important. Use formal phrasing in work or with strangers, and casual phrasing with friends.
Formal: Preciso me retirar
Polite and formal way to say you need to leave.
Preciso me retirar, foi um prazer conhecê-lo
I need to leave, it was a pleasure meeting you.
Informal: Vou nessa
Very casual and common among friends.
Vou nessa, até mais
I’m off, see you later.
Short checklist before leaving
Use these Portuguese phrases to quickly confirm plans, times, and readiness before heading out.
Já terminou?
Are you finished?
Já terminou de arrumar as coisas
Are you done packing your things?
Está pronto?
Are you ready?
Está pronto para sair?
Are you ready to leave?
Vamos agora ou espera mais um pouco
Decide whether to leave now or wait a bit.
Vamos agora se você estiver pronto
Let’s go now if you are ready.
Listening and pronunciation tips
Pronunciation affects comprehension. Brazilians speak fast, so listening practice helps you pick up time phrases. Pay attention to contractions and rhythm.
Contractions: vou + sair often sound like one flow: vou sair becomes natural when spoken quickly.
Linking: numbers and prepositions link in speech, for example, às oito flows as ás-oito.
Focus on: the nasal sounds in words like saio and volto, and the open vs closed vowel sounds common in Brazilian Portuguese.
Conclusion
Mastering time-related phrases for leaving will make exits smoother, help you keep appointments, and sound natural in Brazilian Portuguese. Practice the verbs sair, ir, voltar, and time expressions like meia hora and às + hour. Use the dialogues and idioms above to build confidence and speak like a native next time you need to talk about leaving.
