How to Tell Time in Portuguese: Ask and Answer Naturally
Use a few reliable question and answer patterns to understand the time, make plans, and talk about schedules in Brazilian Portuguese.
Real Life Portuguese · 7 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
The everyday question is Que horas são? (What time is it?). The answer uses ser: é uma hora for one o’clock, and são for the other hours. This singular-versus-plural pattern is worth learning as a complete phrase because English uses “it is” in both cases.
Ask what time it is with Que horas são?
You may also hear Tem horas? in some contexts when asking whether someone has the time, but Que horas são? is a clear phrase every learner can use. Add com licença or por favor if you want to soften the question with someone you do not know.
Que horas são?
What time is it?
É uma hora.
It is one o’clock.
São três horas.
It is three o’clock.
Add minutes after the hour
To say a time such as 2:10, you can state the hour and minutes: são duas e dez. For 2:30, say são duas e meia. For 2:15, são duas e quinze is clear and widely understood. Digital times and spoken conventions can vary, so focus first on recognizing the numbers.
At one o’clock, keep the singular form: é uma e meia (1:30). After that, the plural são is used with the hour. Practicing the full phrase helps you avoid translating English word order directly.
São cinco e vinte.
It is 5:20.
A aula começa às duas e meia.
Class starts at 2:30.
O filme começa às oito e quinze.
The movie starts at 8:15.
Say when an event starts with às
When saying that something happens at a particular time, use às before most clock times: às nove (at nine), às dez e meia (at 10:30). The form is a contraction of the preposition a and the feminine plural article as in this time expression.
The expression à uma is used for one o’clock: A reunião começa à uma (The meeting starts at one). Keep it separate from the answer É uma hora. One tells when something happens; the other tells what time it is.
O ônibus sai às seis.
The bus leaves at six.
A loja fecha às sete e meia.
The store closes at 7:30.
O almoço é à uma.
Lunch is at one.
Clarify morning, afternoon, and exact schedules
Use da manhã (in the morning), da tarde (in the afternoon), and da noite (in the evening/night) when the context could be unclear. Brazil commonly uses both 24-hour schedules in writing and 12-hour expressions in everyday speech.
If you did not understand a time, repeat what you heard as a question. This confirms the number and gives the other person a chance to correct it. Pair the time with an event so the schedule is easier to remember.
A consulta é às nove da manhã.
The appointment is at nine in the morning.
A gente se encontra às oito da noite.
We’ll meet at eight in the evening.
Às sete e vinte, certo?
At 7:20, right?
Put it into practice
Say three real times from your week, including one with minutes and one with da manhã or da noite. Review Portuguese numbers on Real Life Portuguese, then practice confirming a meeting time with a Brazilian teacher at I Speak Portuguese.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The bus leaves at six”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.