what's the time in portuguese

Natashya

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23-12-2024

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Knowing how to ask and tell the time is crucial when traveling or interacting with Portuguese speakers. This guide provides a thorough explanation of how to express time in Portuguese, covering various scenarios and nuances. Let's dive in!

Asking for the Time in Portuguese

The most common way to ask for the time in Portuguese is:

"Que horas são?" (What time is it?)

This is a versatile phrase suitable for most situations. You can also use:

• "Que horas são agora?" (What time is it now?) - This adds emphasis on the present moment.
• "Pode me dizer que horas são?" (Can you tell me what time it is?) - A more polite and formal way of asking.

Telling the Time in Portuguese: The Basics

Portuguese time-telling follows a 24-hour clock, but the 12-hour system is also commonly used. Here's a breakdown:

1. Using "horas" (hours):

• Uma hora: 1 o'clock
• Duas horas: 2 o'clock
• Três horas: 3 o'clock
• ...and so on.

2. Using "e" (and) for minutes:

To express minutes, use "e" (and) followed by the number of minutes.

• Uma hora e cinco minutos: 1:05
• Duas horas e dez minutos: 2:10
• Três horas e quinze minutos: 3:15 (also "um quarto" - a quarter past)

3. Special Cases:

• Meia hora: Half an hour. You can say "Uma hora e meia" (1:30), "Duas horas e meia" (2:30), etc.
• Um quarto: A quarter of an hour (15 minutes). You'll often hear "um quarto para as duas" (a quarter to two) or "um quarto depois das duas" (a quarter past two).

Telling the Time in Portuguese: More Advanced Expressions

1. Using "para" (to) and "menos" (less):

To indicate time before the hour, use "para" (to).

• Cinco para as duas: Five to two (1:55)
• Dez para as três: Ten to three (2:50)

To indicate time past the hour, you can use "menos" (less).

• Duas horas menos dez minutos: Two o'clock minus ten minutes (1:50)

2. The 24-Hour Clock:

While less common in everyday conversation, the 24-hour clock is used in formal settings and schedules.

• 13 horas: 1 p.m.
• 14 horas: 2 p.m.
• 20 horas: 8 p.m.
• 23 horas: 11 p.m.
• 00 horas: Midnight

3. Informal Expressions:

Informal expressions for time are common, especially amongst friends and family. These include:

• É quase uma hora: It's almost one o'clock.
• Já é tarde: It's late already.
• É cedo ainda: It's still early.

Putting it all Together: Examples

Here are some example sentences demonstrating different ways to tell the time in Portuguese:

• Agora são duas horas e vinte minutos. (It's 2:20 now.)
• O filme começa às oito horas. (The movie starts at 8 o'clock.)
• A reunião é às 14h30. (The meeting is at 2:30 p.m.)
• São cinco para as cinco. (It's five to five.)

Conclusion

Mastering the art of telling time in Portuguese takes practice, but with this guide, you'll be well-equipped to confidently ask and understand time in Portuguese. Remember to practice regularly, and don't be afraid to experiment! Conversational fluency is key to improving your Portuguese language skills. Now go out there and put your newfound knowledge to the test!