In this post, you will learn the essentials of telling the time in Portuguese, including vocabulary, phrases, and useful tips.

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time in Portuguese

Before diving into specific phrases, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some basic vocabulary related to time:

• Hour → hora
• Minute → minuto
• Second  → segundo
• Midnight → meia-noite
• Noon → meio-dia
• Morning → manhã
• Afternoon → tarde
• Night → noite

Asking for the Time in Portuguese

To ask someone for the time, you can use one of the following phrases:

• Que horas são?
• Pode/podes dizer-me as horas? (formal/informal)
• Tem/tens horas? (formal/informal)

Both phrases are polite and commonly used in everyday conversations.

How to Tell the Time in Portuguese

When telling the time in Portuguese, the structure is similar to English but with some key differences. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown.

Hours

Let’s start by looking at on-the-hour examples (here we don’t need to mention the minutes):

• 1:00 → É uma hora.
• 2:00 → São duas horas.
• 3:00 → São três horas.
• 4:00 → São quatro horas.

Notice that for 1:00, the singular form “hora” is used. For most cases, however, we default to the plural form “horas”. With that said, people usually leave “horas” out of the equation:

• 1:00 → É uma.
• 2:00 → São duas.
• 3:00 → São três.
• 4:00 → São quatro.

Minutes

When adding minutes, you simply place the minutes after the hour. Notice “e” between the two:

• 1:15 → É uma e quinze.
• 2:30 → São duas e trinta.
• 3:45 → São três e quarenta e cinco.

Do you need to review Portuguese numerals? Read this one.

Using “Quarter” and “Half”

Portuguese has specific terms for “quarter past,” “half past,” and “quarter to”:

• 1:15 (a quarter past one) → É uma e um quarto.
• 2:30 (half past two) → São duas e meia.
• 3:45 (a quarter to four) → (1) São quatro menos um quarto, or (2) São um quarto para as quatro.

Morning, Afternoon, and Night

To specify the time of day, you can use the following terms:

• in the morning → da manhã
• in the afternoon → da tarde
• in the evening/night → da noite

For example:

• 10:00 am → São dez da manhã.
• 3:00 pm → São três da tarde.
• 8:00 pm → São oito da noite.

24-Hour Clock

In formal contexts, such as public transportation schedules or business hours, the 24-hour clock is often used:

• 13:00 (1:00 pm) → São treze horas. 
• 18:30 (6:30 pm) → São dezoito e trinta. 

At What Time?

Asking when something is taking place in Portuguese implies using the preposition “a”.  In this context, “a” is the equivalent of “at” in English. Here’s an example:

• At what time will the movie start? → A que horas começa o filme?

When replying to this type of question, we’ll also use “a” in the answer. However, we’ll be using its contracted forms (contractions with definite articles):

• The dinner is at 8 pm → O jantar é às oito da noite.
• The meetings is now at 10 am → A reunião é agora às dez da manhã.
• The train leaves at 1 pm → O comboio sai à uma da tarde.
• Yesterday I went to bed at midnight → Ontem deitei-me à meia-noite.
• I’ll take a break at noon → Vou fazer uma pausa ao meio-dia.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to become comfortable with telling time in Portuguese is through practice. Try to incorporate these phrases and structures into your daily routine. Ask friends or language partners for the time, or practice by reading schedules and clocks in Portuguese.

Telling time in Portuguese is a practical skill that enhances your communication abilities in any Portuguese-speaking environment. By understanding the basic vocabulary, practicing common phrases, and familiarizing yourself with the 12-hour and 24-hour formats, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate daily life and interactions confidently.

Remember, like any new language skill, practice and exposure are key. Keep challenging yourself, and soon telling time in Portuguese will become second nature. Boa sorte!