Há, Faz, and Daqui a: Time Expressions in Brazilian Portuguese
Choose a time expression for a duration that started in the past, an elapsed period, or an event that will happen in the future.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
When an action or situation began in the past and continues now, Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the present tense with há: Moro aqui há dois anos (I have lived here for two years). The present verb shows that the situation is still true.
Use há for a duration that reaches the present
In this meaning, há is related to haver and is written with an accent. Do not translate English “for” word for word; match the timeline instead.
Estudo português há seis meses.
I have been studying Portuguese for six months.
A gente trabalha junto há muito tempo.
We have worked together for a long time.
Ela mora no Brasil há um ano.
She has lived in Brazil for a year.
Use faz to talk about elapsed time
Faz can also express how long a situation has lasted: Faz dois anos que moro aqui. This often corresponds to “It has been two years that I live here” or “I have lived here for two years.” In a simple past event, faz also means that a period of time ago: Cheguei faz dois dias (I arrived two days ago).
Há and faz can overlap in time expressions, but the grammar around them changes. Notice whether you are describing an ongoing situation or counting back from a completed event.
Faz três meses que trabalho nesta empresa.
I have worked at this company for three months.
A consulta foi há uma semana.
The appointment was a week ago.
Faz pouco tempo que nos conhecemos.
We met not long ago.
Use daqui a for time from now
Daqui a points forward from the present: daqui a dez minutos (in ten minutes), daqui a uma semana (in a week). A related phrase, dentro de, can also mean “in” or “within” when talking about a future period.
Compare the direction of time: Moro aqui há dois anos means the two-year period reaches today; Vou viajar daqui a dois anos means the trip is two years in the future.
A reunião começa daqui a quinze minutos.
The meeting starts in fifteen minutes.
Daqui a um mês, vou visitar minha família.
In a month, I’m going to visit my family.
A loja fecha daqui a meia hora.
The store closes in half an hour.
Put it into practice
Make one sentence about a duration that continues today, one about an event that happened ago, and one plan in the future. Label each timeline before choosing há, faz, or daqui a.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The meeting starts in fifteen minutes”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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