Portuguese is a beautiful language spoken by millions of people around the world. If you are trying to learn Portuguese, one essential skill to have is knowing how to tell the time. In this guide, we will cover both formal and informal ways to express time in Portuguese, and provide you with useful tips, examples, and regional variations.
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Formal Expressions of Time
When it comes to formal situations, it is important to use the correct language to convey time in a respectful and professional manner. Here are some formal expressions used to tell the time in Portuguese:
- Uma hora da manhã – One o’clock in the morning
- Três horas da tarde – Three o’clock in the afternoon
- Seis horas da noite – Six o’clock in the evening
- Meia-noite – Midnight
In formal situations, it is common to use the 24-hour clock system. To indicate specific minutes, you can use the word minutos. For example, três horas e vinte minutos means three twenty.
Informal Expressions of Time
When speaking casually with friends or family, native Portuguese speakers often use different expressions to convey the time. Here are some informal ways to tell the time in Portuguese:
- Uma da manhã – One in the morning
- Três da tarde – Three in the afternoon
- Seis da noite – Six in the evening
- Meio-dia – Noon
Similar to formal expressions, you can also use the word minutos to indicate specific minutes in informal speech. For example, três e vinte minutos means three twenty in an informal context.
Useful Tips for Expressing Time in Portuguese
Here are some tips to keep in mind when talking about time in Portuguese:
Tip 1: In Portuguese, the word for “o’clock” is usually not used. Simply stating the number can be enough.
For example, instead of saying “two o’clock,” you can simply say “duas” (two).
Tip 2: In Portugal, it is common to use the 24-hour clock system in both formal and informal situations. In Brazil, however, the 12-hour clock system is more prevalent.
For instance, instead of saying “quatorze horas” (14:00), Brazilians would say “duas da tarde” (two in the afternoon).
Tip 3: When talking about quarter past or quarter to the hour, you can use the word quarto(s) in Portuguese.
For example, “dez e quinze” means “quarter past ten,” and “cinco menos quarto” means “quarter to five.”
Examples of Expressing Time in Portuguese
Let’s see some examples of how to say time in Portuguese:
- São duas da tarde – It’s two in the afternoon.
- Estamos atrasados! Já são nove e trinta – We’re late! It’s already half past nine.
- Às seis e quinze, encontramo-nos no café – Let’s meet at quarter past six in the café.
- Que horas são? – What time is it?
- Hoje começo a trabalhar às oito da manhã – Today I start working at eight in the morning.
Remember, practice makes perfect, so try using these expressions in conversation to become more fluent in telling the time in Portuguese.
Whether you need to express time in a formal or informal situation, understanding the different expressions for telling time in Portuguese is essential. With these tips, examples, and regional variations, you can confidently converse about time in Portuguese. Boa sorte! (Good luck!)
