Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say years in Portuguese! Whether you’re learning Portuguese for travel, business, or personal reasons, knowing how to express years accurately is essential. In this guide, we’ll cover both the formal and informal ways to say years in Portuguese, and we’ll provide you with tips, examples, and additional insights. So, let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Express Years in Portuguese
When it comes to formal situations, such as business meetings, official documents, or conversations with your Portuguese professor, it’s important to use the correct phrasing for expressing years. Here are a few key tips:
1. Using Cardinal Numbers
In formal settings, Portuguese employs cardinal numbers to express years. Here are a few examples:
- 1985 – “mil novecentos e oitenta e cinco” (pronounced: meel no-veh-cen-tosh ee oh-tuh-goo ee shen)
- 2003 – “dois mil e três” (pronounced: doysh meel ee tresh)
- 2019 – “dois mil e dezenove” (pronounced: doysh meel ee deh-ze-no-ve)
2. The Verb “Ser” (To Be)
Another formal way to express years is by using the verb “ser” (to be) in its third-person singular form (“foi” for past years and “será” for future years). Here are a few examples:
“O ano de 1999 foi marcado por grandes acontecimentos.” (The year 1999 was marked by significant events.)
“2025 será um ano de mudanças significativas para a empresa.” (2025 will be a year of significant changes for the company.)
Informal Ways to Express Years in Portuguese
Now, let’s explore more casual and informal ways to talk about years in Portuguese. These expressions are commonly used in everyday conversations among friends, family, and in informal settings.
1. Using Cardinal Numbers (In Shortened Form)
Informally, Portuguese often shortens cardinal numbers to express years. Here are some examples:
- 1998 – “noventa e oito” (pronounced: no-ven-tah ee oh-ee-toh)
- 2012 – “doze” (pronounced: doh-zee)
- 2020 – “vinte” (pronounced: veen-te)
2. “Ano de” (Year of)
For informal conversations, it is common to use the phrase “ano de” (year of) followed by the cardinal number to express a certain year. Take a look:
“Aquela festa aconteceu em mil novecentos e noventa e nove, no ano de 99.” (That party happened in 1999, the year of 99.)
“O nascimento do nosso filho foi no ano de 2007.” (The birth of our son was in the year 2007.)
Regional Variations
While the formal and informal expressions mentioned above are widely used across Portuguese-speaking countries, it’s worth noting that regional variations might exist. For instance, in Brazil, people usually omit the word “ano” when expressing years informally, especially when referring to more recent years.
For example:
- 2016 – “dezesseis” (pronounced: deh-zes-ee-seez)
- 2018 – “dezoito” (pronounced: deh-zoy-toh)
Remember, these variations may change depending on the context or personal preference in different regions.
In Conclusion
Congratulations! You now have a comprehensive understanding of how to express years in Portuguese. From the formal use of cardinal numbers and the verb “ser” to the more relaxed and informal expressions, you are well-equipped to navigate Portuguese conversations confidently. Don’t forget to adapt your language to match the formality of each context, and remember that while there might be minor regional variations, the expressions provided here are widely accepted across Portuguese-speaking countries. Enjoy practicing and incorporating these new phrases into your Portuguese repertoire!
