How to Say "Midday" in Portuguese

meio-dia

/ˌmej.uˈd͡ʒi.ɐ/

The Portuguese phrase for midday is meio-dia.

meio-dia refers to the time of day when it is midday. In the specific context of lunchtime, you may hear the informal phrase Hora do almoço.

What does it mean word for word?

The term is a compound of meio, meaning middle and dia, meaning day.

The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /ˌmej.uˈdʒi.ɐ/.

The phrase meio-dia is often paired with the verb dar meaning 'to give', such as deu meio-dia, which literally means 'it gave midday' to signify the clock has struck twelve.
In some traditional rural regions of Brazil, meio-dia is not just a time but a signal for the 'Angelus' bell, which traditionally called workers from the fields to pray.
While meio-dia is the literal time, Brazilians often use the phrase meio-dia e meia to mean 12:30, where meia is a shortened form of meia hora or 'half hour'.

É meio-dia.
It's midday.
This sentence shows how to state the current time.
Tatoeba #975827 by alexmarcelo, translation #3179083 by muriloricci
De manhã, toda a comuna parece bastante movimentada, mas à medida que o sol sobe, a energia cai, e um ânimo lânguido instala-se após a refeição do meio-dia.
In the morning the whole commune seems abuzz with activity, but as the sun climbs, the energy falls, and a languid mood takes hold after the midday meal.
This sentence uses meio-dia to describe a meal occurring at midday.
Tatoeba #10701429 by Cangarejo, translation #8973364 by earthsophagus
Nos encontraremos na praça ao meio-dia.
We will meet at the square at midday.
A reunião está agendada para começar ao meio-dia exato.
The meeting is scheduled to start at precisely midday.
Vamos almoçar ao meio-dia em ponto.
Let's have lunch at exactly midday.

Felipe and Juliana are discussing when to meet for lunch.

Felipe

A gente se encontra ao meio-dia?
Shall we meet at midday?
Juliana

Pode ser, mas estarei com pressa.
That works, but I will be in a hurry.
Felipe

Tudo bem, eu também tenho um compromisso.
That is fine, I also have a commitment.
Juliana

Combinado, nos vemos em breve.
Agreed, see you soon.

Sources

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