Portuguese · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Early" in Portuguese: cedo
cedo
Early in Portuguese is cedo. Pair it with verbs: acordar cedo, chegar cedo, sair cedo. It sits after the verb in everyday speech.
Morning plans
Amanhã eu acordo bem cedo para a academia.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cedo
Say it
SEH-doo
/ˈse.du/
SEH-doo — open e, soft final o.
"Early" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| cedo | early Default adverb. | Default adverb. |
| acordar cedo | to wake up early Morning routine. | Morning routine. |
| chegar cedo | to arrive early Appointments and work. | Appointments and work. |
| mais cedo | earlier Comparing times. | Comparing times. |
How to use cedo in real life
- 1Morning plans
Amanhã eu acordo bem cedo para a academia.
Tomorrow I wake up really early for the gym.
Bem cedo intensifies early.
- 2At work
O chefe chegou cedo e abriu a sala.
The boss arrived early and opened the room.
Chegar cedo is a fixed pairing.
- 3Changing plans
Podemos jantar mais cedo hoje?
Can we eat dinner earlier today?
Mais cedo means earlier.
Mistakes English speakers make with cedo
Incorrect: Eu sou cedo.
Correct: Eu chego cedo. / Eu acordo cedo.
Cedo is an adverb, not an adjective for people. Attach it to a verb.
Incorrect: Eu chego early.
Correct: Eu chego cedo.
Use cedo, not the English word.
Good to know
In big Brazilian cities, chegar cedo can mean beating traffic as much as being polite. Cedo is relative: 7 a.m. is cedo for nightlife people, normal for bakers.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a beach day
ChatPal
Se a gente sair cedo, evita o trânsito.
If we leave early, we avoid traffic.
You
Beleza. Eu acordo cedo sem problema.
Okay. I wake up early no problem.
ChatPal
Então marcamos cedo, às sete?
So we set it early, at seven?
You
Sete está cedo, mas eu topo.
Seven is early, but I am in.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Early" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Early" in Portuguese
Where does cedo go in the sentence?
Usually after the verb: chegar cedo, acordar cedo.
How do I say earlier?
Mais cedo.
Is cedo an adjective?
No. It is an adverb. For early as in ‘early bird,’ rephrase with a verb.
How do I say too early?
Cedo demais or muito cedo.
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
