What Time Is It In Portuguese? Learning to tell the time in Portuguese is essential for travel, business, or connecting with Portuguese speakers. At WHAT.EDU.VN, we provide clear, concise explanations and examples to help you master Portuguese time-telling, covering everything from formal 24-hour clock usage to informal expressions. Discover the language of time, explore Portuguese culture, and grasp the nuances of daily communication.
1. Asking “What Time Is It?” in Portuguese
The most straightforward way to ask for the time in Portuguese is:
-
Que horas são? This translates directly to “What time is it?” or, more literally, “What hours are there?” It’s the most common and widely understood way to ask for the time.
Alt text: A historic clock tower in Braga, Portugal, shows the importance of time in Portuguese culture.
A more formal and polite option is:
- Tem horas que me diga? This translates to “Do you have the time?” or “Could you tell me the time?” It’s a more courteous way to ask, especially when addressing someone you don’t know well.
2. The 24-Hour Clock in Portuguese
Portugal commonly uses the 24-hour clock, particularly in formal contexts such as schedules, transportation, and official announcements. This system avoids ambiguity between a.m. and p.m.
Understanding the 24-Hour Clock
The 24-hour clock runs from 0h00 (midnight) to 23h59 (one minute before midnight). Here’s how it corresponds to the 12-hour clock:
| English Time | Portuguese Time | In Words |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 a.m. (midnight) | 0h | zero horas / meia-noite |
| 1:00 a.m. | 1h | uma hora |
| 2:00 a.m. | 2h | duas horas |
| 3:00 a.m. | 3h | três horas |
| 4:00 a.m. | 4h | quatro horas |
| 5:00 a.m. | 5h | cinco horas |
| 6:00 a.m. | 6h | seis horas |
| 7:00 a.m. | 7h | sete horas |
| 8:00 a.m. | 8h | oito horas |
| 9:00 a.m. | 9h | nove horas |
| 10:00 a.m. | 10h | dez horas |
| 11:00 a.m. | 11h | onze horas |
| 12:00 p.m. (noon) | 12h | doze horas / meio-dia |
| 1:00 p.m. | 13h | treze horas |
| 2:00 p.m. | 14h | catorze horas |
| 3:00 p.m. | 15h | quinze horas |
| 4:00 p.m. | 16h | dezasseis horas |
| 5:00 p.m. | 17h | dezassete horas |
| 6:00 p.m. | 18h | dezoito horas |
| 7:00 p.m. | 19h | dezanove horas |
| 8:00 p.m. | 20h | vinte horas |
| 9:00 p.m. | 21h | vinte e uma horas |
| 10:00 p.m. | 22h | vinte e duas horas |
| 11:00 p.m. | 23h | vinte e três horas |
Examples of Using the 24-Hour Clock
- O comboio parte às 14h30. (The train leaves at 14:30 – 2:30 p.m.)
- A reunião começa às 9h00. (The meeting starts at 9:00 a.m.)
- O filme acaba às 22h15. (The movie ends at 22:15 – 10:15 p.m.)
3. Formal and Informal Ways to Tell Time in Portuguese
In Portuguese, telling time can vary depending on the context. Formal situations often use the 24-hour clock, while informal settings may use a 12-hour clock with additional phrases to indicate the time of day.
Formal Telling Time
In formal situations, it’s best to use the 24-hour clock system and state the exact minutes. For example:
- São dezasseis horas e vinte e dois minutos. (It’s 16:22 – 4:22 p.m.)
- São treze horas e quarenta e cinco minutos. (It’s 13:45 – 1:45 p.m.)
Often, the words “horas” (hours) and “minutos” (minutes) are omitted for brevity:
- São dezasseis e vinte e dois. (It’s sixteen and twenty-two – 4:22 p.m.)
- São treze e quarenta e cinco. (It’s thirteen and forty-five – 1:45 p.m.)
Informal Telling Time
In informal contexts, Portuguese speakers often use a 12-hour system but specify the time of day:
- da manhã – in the morning (a.m.)
- da tarde – in the afternoon (p.m.)
- da noite – in the evening/night (p.m.)
Examples:
- São 7h30 da manhã. (It’s 7:30 a.m.)
- São 2 da tarde. (It’s 2 in the afternoon.)
- São 10 da noite. (It’s 10 in the evening.)
Alt text: A colorful infographic showing how to tell time in Portuguese, including the phrases “da manhã,” “da tarde,” and “da noite”.
4. É or São: Which Verb to Use?
When telling time in Portuguese, you’ll use either “é” or “são,” which are forms of the verb “ser” (to be). The choice depends on whether you’re referring to one o’clock or any other time.
-
Use “é” (singular) for one o’clock and noon/midnight:
- É uma hora. (It’s one o’clock.)
- É meio-dia. (It’s noon.)
- É meia-noite. (It’s midnight.)
-
Use “são” (plural) for all other times:
- São duas horas. (It’s two o’clock.)
- São cinco horas e meia. (It’s half past five.)
- São dez horas da noite. (It’s ten o’clock at night.)
The logic behind this is that “horas” (hours) is plural, so you use the plural form of the verb “ser.” However, when referring to one hour, noon, or midnight, you use the singular form.
5. Subdivisions of the Hour in Portuguese
To be more specific, you can use these expressions to refer to minutes within the hour:
| English | Portuguese (Formal) | Portuguese (Informal) |
|---|---|---|
| Exactly on the hour | em ponto | em ponto |
| Quarter past | e quinze | e um quarto |
| Half past | e trinta | e meia |
| Quarter to | menos quinze | um quarto para |
| Five past | e cinco | e cinco |
| Ten past | e dez | e dez |
| Twenty past | e vinte | e vinte |
| Twenty-five past | e vinte e cinco | e vinte e cinco |
| Five to | menos cinco | cinco para |
| Ten to | menos dez | dez para |
| Twenty to | menos vinte | vinte para |
| Twenty-five to | menos vinte e cinco | vinte e cinco para |
Examples of Subdivisions of the Hour
- São três horas em ponto. (It’s exactly three o’clock.)
- São quatro e quinze. (It’s quarter past four.)
- São sete e meia. (It’s half past seven.)
- É um quarto para as oito. (It’s quarter to eight.)
- São dez menos dez. (It’s ten to ten.)
6. Common Phrases and Expressions Related to Time in Portuguese
Understanding common phrases related to time will enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese. Here are some useful expressions:
- Agora – Now
- Hoje – Today
- Amanhã – Tomorrow
- Ontem – Yesterday
- Cedo – Early
- Tarde – Late
- A tempo – On time
- Com antecedência – In advance
- Dentro de – Within
- Durante – During
- Para sempre – Forever
Examples of Using Time-Related Phrases
- Preciso sair agora. (I need to leave now.)
- O encontro é amanhã de manhã. (The meeting is tomorrow morning.)
- Cheguei tarde para a reunião. (I arrived late for the meeting.)
- É importante chegar a tempo. (It’s important to arrive on time.)
- Avise com antecedência. (Give notice in advance.)
- Terminaremos o projeto dentro de uma semana. (We will finish the project within a week.)
- Durante a noite, a cidade fica mais calma. (During the night, the city becomes calmer.)
7. Portuguese Time Format: Written and Spoken
In Portugal, the written time format typically follows the pattern of 0h00 (e.g., 23h30, 7h15). The “h” stands for “horas” (hours). Using colons (e.g., 23:30, 7:15) is also acceptable, but the “h” format is more common.
Examples of Written Time
- 23h30 (11:30 p.m.)
- 7h15 (7:15 a.m.)
- 16h00 (4:00 p.m.)
Spoken Time vs. Written Time
When speaking, you can either use the formal 24-hour system or the informal 12-hour system with “da manhã,” “da tarde,” or “da noite.” In written communication, the 24-hour format is often preferred for clarity and precision, especially in schedules and official documents.
8. Telling Time with Minutes in Between
Describing the time accurately involves knowing how to express the minutes between each hour. Here’s how to tell time with specific minutes in Portuguese:
- São duas horas e cinco minutos. (It’s two hours and five minutes – 2:05)
- São dez horas e vinte minutos. (It’s ten hours and twenty minutes – 10:20)
- São cinco horas e quarenta minutos. (It’s five hours and forty minutes – 5:40)
In a more casual context, you might drop the word “minutos”:
- São duas e cinco. (It’s two and five – 2:05)
- São dez e vinte. (It’s ten and twenty – 10:20)
- São cinco e quarenta. (It’s five and forty – 5:40)
For minutes past the half-hour, you can also express the time in terms of “minutes to” the next hour:
- São seis horas menos vinte. (It’s twenty to six – 5:40)
- É uma hora menos dez. (It’s ten to one – 12:50)
9. Time Zones in Portuguese-Speaking Countries
Portuguese is spoken in several countries, each with its own time zone. Understanding these differences is crucial for coordinating activities and communicating effectively.
Main Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Their Time Zones
- Portugal: Uses Western European Time (WET) during standard time (GMT+0) and Western European Summer Time (WEST) during daylight saving time (GMT+1).
- Brazil: Has multiple time zones, ranging from GMT-2 to GMT-5. The most common time zone is Brasília Time (BRT), which is GMT-3.
- Angola: Uses West Africa Time (WAT), which is GMT+1 year-round.
- Mozambique: Uses Central Africa Time (CAT), which is GMT+2 year-round.
Examples of Time Zone Differences
- When it’s 12:00 p.m. in Lisbon, Portugal (WET), it’s 8:00 a.m. in Brasília, Brazil (BRT).
- When it’s 3:00 p.m. in Luanda, Angola (WAT), it’s 2:00 p.m. in Lisbon, Portugal (WET).
- When it’s 10:00 a.m. in Maputo, Mozambique (CAT), it’s 8:00 a.m. in Lisbon, Portugal (WET).
10. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Telling Time in Portuguese
Learning to tell time in Portuguese can be tricky, and there are common mistakes that learners often make. Here’s a list of these mistakes and how to avoid them:
| Mistake | Correction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Using “é” for all times | Use “é” for 1 o’clock, noon, and midnight; “são” for others | “É” is singular, while “são” is plural. Since you’re usually referring to multiple “horas,” you use “são.” However, “é” is correct for singular instances like “É uma hora” (It’s one o’clock) or “É meio-dia” (It’s noon). |
| Forgetting “da manhã,” “da tarde,” “da noite” | Include these phrases in informal contexts | These phrases specify the time of day when using the 12-hour clock in informal settings. Omitting them can lead to confusion. |
| Incorrectly using “menos” | Use “menos” to express “minutes to” the next hour | Instead of saying “São cinco e quarenta” (It’s five and forty), you can say “São seis menos vinte” (It’s twenty to six). Be sure to adjust the hour accordingly. |
| Confusing formal and informal styles | Use the 24-hour clock in formal contexts, 12-hour in informal | In professional or official settings, stick to the 24-hour clock for clarity. In casual conversations, the 12-hour clock with added phrases is fine. |
| Misunderstanding time zone differences | Account for time zone variations in Portuguese-speaking countries | Remember that Brazil, Portugal, Angola, and Mozambique, among others, have different time zones. This is particularly important when scheduling international calls or travel. |
| Overlooking the omission of “horas” and “minutos” | Drop these words in casual speech | While it’s grammatically correct to say “São duas horas e dez minutos,” it’s more common to simply say “São duas e dez” in informal conversation. |
| Confusing cardinal and ordinal numbers | Use cardinal numbers to tell the time | Avoid using ordinal numbers (first, second, third). Instead, use cardinal numbers (one, two, three) when stating the hour and minutes. For example, say “São três horas” (It’s three o’clock), not “São a terceira hora” (It’s the third hour). |
| Translating directly from English | Adapt your phrasing to Portuguese norms | While direct translations can work sometimes, idiomatic expressions in Portuguese might differ. Familiarize yourself with common Portuguese phrases for telling time instead of directly translating English phrases. |
| Ignoring regional variations | Be aware that some regions have unique ways of telling time | Like any language, Portuguese has regional variations. While the basics are universal, some regions might have unique expressions or slang related to time. Pay attention to these differences when interacting with speakers from various regions. |
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