Signification
A concise way to ask about the current time.
Contexte culturel
Brazilians often use 'Que horas?' even for appointments where 'A que horas?' would be grammatically required. In Portugal, it is more common to hear 'São que horas?' (The hours are what?) which flips the standard order. The 24-hour clock is standard for schedules (trains, movies), but in speech, people use the 12-hour clock with 'da manhã' or 'da noite'.
The Wrist Tap
If you forget the words, tapping your wrist where a watch would be while saying 'Que horas?' is universally understood.
The Silent H
Never pronounce the 'H' in 'horas'. It is always silent, starting with the 'O' sound.
Signification
A concise way to ask about the current time.
The Wrist Tap
If you forget the words, tapping your wrist where a watch would be while saying 'Que horas?' is universally understood.
The Silent H
Never pronounce the 'H' in 'horas'. It is always silent, starting with the 'O' sound.
Add 'Por Favor'
Even in informal settings, adding 'por favor' makes you sound much more likeable.
Teste-toi
Choose the most natural way to ask a friend for the time.
Você está com um amigo e quer saber a hora. O que você diz?
'Que horas?' is the most natural and common informal shortcut.
Complete the sentence with the correct verb.
Que horas ____?
The verb 'ser' must be in the plural 'são' to agree with 'horas'.
Match the phrase to the context.
A que horas começa o show?
'A que horas' is used specifically for scheduled events.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Ways to ask for time
Informal
- • Que horas?
- • Tem horas?
Formal
- • Que horas são?
- • Poderia me dizer as horas?
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesVocê está com um amigo e quer saber a hora. O que você diz?
'Que horas?' is the most natural and common informal shortcut.
Que horas ____?
The verb 'ser' must be in the plural 'são' to agree with 'horas'.
A que horas começa o show?
'A que horas' is used specifically for scheduled events.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsPortuguese views time as a collection of hours. Since there are 24 hours in a day, we ask for 'which hours' are occurring.
It's better not to. It sounds like a direct translation from English and is grammatically weak in Portuguese.
Yes, the meaning is identical, though Brazilians are more likely to drop the verb 'são'.
Expressions liées
Horário
similarSchedule
Dar horas
builds onTo strike the hour (clock)
Hora marcada
specialized formAppointed time
