Breakdown of A pastelaria abre às sete.
sete
seven
abrir
to open
às
at the (fem. pl.) / to the (fem. pl.)
a pastelaria
the pastry shop, the café
Questions & Answers about A pastelaria abre às sete.
Why is it às sete instead of just a sete?
When telling time in Portuguese, we use the feminine plural article because the word horas (hours) is implied. So, às is the contraction of the preposition a (at) and the plural article as (the). You are literally saying "at the seven".
Do I need to add the word horas at the end of the sentence?
No, it is not strictly necessary. Just like in English, if the context is clear, you can just say às sete instead of às sete horas. Both are perfectly correct, but leaving it out is very common in everyday spoken Portuguese.
Can I use abre when a business opens itself, just like in English?
Yes! The verb abrir (to open) works exactly like English here. You can use it when a person actively opens an object, like a door or a book, and also when a shop simply opens for the day.
Is a pastelaria strictly a place that sells pastries?
While it translates to pastry shop or bakery, a pastelaria in Portugal is basically an everyday cafe. It is the standard place where locals go to drink their morning espresso, eat toast, or have a quick sandwich, not just to buy cakes.
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