Portuguese · Time, Numbers & Colors
"What time is it?" in Portuguese: Que horas são?
Que horas são?
What time is it? in Portuguese is Que horas são? Answers start with São… for most hours, or É… for one o'clock: É uma hora. Brazilians ask this constantly on transit and before meetings.
At a bus stop
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How to pronounce Que horas são?
Say it
kee OH-rahs sowng
/ˈke ˈo.ɾas ˈsɐ̃w̃/
kee OH-rahs sow(ng). São has a nasal ow sound.
"What time is it?" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Que horas são? | What time is it? Default question everywhere in Brazil. | Default question everywhere in Brazil. |
| Que horas? | What time? Short casual form. | Short casual form. |
| São duas horas. | It's two o'clock. Plural hours take São. | Plural hours take São. |
| É uma hora. | It's one o'clock. One o'clock uses É, not São. | One o'clock uses É, not São. |
| Me diz que horas são? | Can you tell me what time it is? Softer ask. | Softer ask. |
How to use Que horas são? in real life
- 1At a bus stop
Com licença, que horas são?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Polite street ask.
- 2Before a meeting
Que horas são? A reunião começa logo.
What time is it? The meeting starts soon.
Workplace urgency.
- 3Texting a friend
Oi! Que horas são aí com você?
Hi! What time is it where you are?
Aí marks the other person's place.
Mistakes English speakers make with Que horas são?
Incorrect: Que hora é?
Correct: Que horas são?
Brazilian Portuguese almost always uses plural horas with são for this question.
Incorrect: São uma hora.
Correct: É uma hora.
One o'clock is singular: É uma hora. Other hours use São.
Good to know
Que horas são? is one of the first survival phrases in Brazil. People answer with São três e meia, São quinze para as quatro, and similar clock math. Phones made asking less common, but the question still appears in elevators, buses, and group chats across time zones.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching a train together
ChatPal
Que horas são agora?
What time is it now?
You
São dez e vinte. Que horas são no bilhete?
It's 10:20. What time is on the ticket?
ChatPal
O trem é às dez e meia. Que horas são no seu relógio?
The train is at 10:30. What time is it on your watch?
You
Também dez e vinte. Que horas são no painel?
Also 10:20. What time is it on the board?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What time is it?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What time is it?" in Portuguese
Exact phrase?
Que horas são?
How do I answer?
São duas horas, São três e meia. For 1:00, É uma hora.
Can I say Que hora é?
You may hear it, but Que horas são? is the standard Brazilian form.
How do I ask what time something is?
A que horas…? or Que horas é o…?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
