Asking and Telling the Time
To ask for the time in Portuguese, we literally ask "What hours are they?"
When telling the time, use the verb ser (to be). Because the word for hour (a hora) is feminine, use feminine numbers like one (uma) and two (duas).
- Use the singular é for one o'clock.
- Use the plural são for all other hours (two o'clock and onwards).
To clarify the time of day, add da manhã (in the morning), da tarde (in the afternoon), or da noite (in the evening/night).
Half Past, Noon, and Midnight
To say "half past", add e meia after the hour. This literally means "and a half", referring to a half-hour (meia hora).
Portuguese has specific words for noon (o meio-dia) and midnight (a meia-noite). Because these represent a single point in time, they also use the singular verb é.
Saying "At" a Specific Time
To ask what time an event happens, start with the preposition a (to / at), asking A que horas...? (At what time...?).
When stating that something happens at a certain time, combine the preposition a with the definite article for the time you are referring to.
| Time | Contraction | Explanation | Example |
|---|
| 1:00 or midnight | à | a + a (fem. sg.) | à uma, à meia-noite |
| 2:00 onwards | às | a + as (fem. pl.) | às duas, às nove |
| noon | ao | a + o (masc. sg.) | ao meio-dia |
Examples stating exactly when an event happens:
