A1 · Beginner Chapter 3

Numbers, Dates, and Time

5 Total Rules
50 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the world of schedules, prices, and dates to navigate daily life in Portuguese with confidence.

  • Master counting to 100 while managing gender agreement for numbers like 1 and 2.
  • Identify days and months to organize your calendar and social life.
  • Tell the time accurately using both Brazilian and European Portuguese conventions.
Master the rhythm of Portuguese life through numbers and time.

What You'll Learn

Hey smart learner! Ready to take a huge step in your Portuguese journey? This chapter is like a magic key that opens the door to the real world of Portuguese speakers. Imagine wanting to ask what time it is, say how old you are, or even find out the price of a delicious coffee – all these are tied to numbers and time. In this chapter, you'll learn how to count from zero to infinity (well, at least up to 100!) without getting confused. You'll discover that numbers like 1, 2, and even the hundreds have genders, just like people, and need to agree with the nouns they follow! Don't worry, we'll learn how to correctly use e (and) between numbers so everything sounds smooth and natural. Next, we'll dive into the days of the week. Do you know why Monday is she and Saturday is he? This is another interesting secret that will be revealed here! Months are always masculine and always accompanied by a small o (the), like a good friend who never leaves your side. Finally, you'll learn how to ask and tell the time like a true Portuguese speaker – this way, you'll never miss an appointment or know exactly when your favorite show starts. With this chapter, you're no longer just a beginner; you'll be able to make plans, shop, and participate in daily conversations with much more confidence. So let's go, lots of new things are waiting for you!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to count items and prices up to 100 with correct gender agreement.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to state the day of the week and month for any given date.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to ask for and tell the time including minutes.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Hey smart learner! Ready to take a huge step in your Portuguese grammar A1 journey? This chapter is like a magic key that opens the door to the real world of Portuguese speakers. Imagine wanting to ask what time it is, say how old you are, or even find out the price of a delicious coffee – all these essential daily interactions are tied to understanding numbers in Portuguese, dates in Portuguese, and telling time in Portuguese. Mastering these basics will significantly boost your confidence and enable you to engage in more meaningful conversations right from the start.
In this chapter, you'll learn how to count from zero to infinity (well, at least up to 100!) without getting confused. You'll discover that numbers like um (one) and dois (two), and even the hundreds, have genders, just like people, and need to agree with the nouns they follow! Don't worry, we'll learn how to correctly use "e" (and) between numbers so everything sounds smooth and natural. This foundational knowledge is crucial for any A1 Portuguese speaker looking to build a solid linguistic base.
Next, we'll dive into the Portuguese days of the week. Do you know why Monday is "she" and Saturday is "he"? This is another interesting secret that will be revealed here! Portuguese months are always masculine and always accompanied by a small "o" (the), like a good friend who never leaves your side. Finally, you'll learn how to ask and tell time in Portuguese like a true native speaker – this way, you'll never miss an appointment or know exactly when your favorite show starts. With this chapter, you're no longer just a beginner; you'll be able to make plans, shop, and participate in daily conversations with much more confidence. So let's go, lots of new things are waiting for you!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down the rules for Portuguese numbers, dates, and time that will become your new best friends! First, we tackle Cardinal Numbers: Zero and beyond. The number zero is simply "zero" (zero). When counting, most numbers are straightforward, but pay attention to um (one) and dois (two). They change based on the gender of the noun they modify: um (masculine) becomes uma (feminine), and dois (masculine) becomes duas (feminine). For example, "um livro" (one book) but "uma caneta" (one pen). Similarly, "dois carros" (two cars) but "duas casas" (two houses). This is a key aspect of Portuguese Numbers: Counting and Agreement (1-100+). For compound numbers, remember to use "e" (and) between tens and units: "vinte e cinco" (twenty-five), or hundreds and tens: "cento e um" (one hundred and one).
Next, let's explore the Portuguese Days: Why Monday is "She" and Saturday is "He". Most days of the week, from Monday to Friday, end in "-feira" (which means 'fair' or 'market day' historically) and are feminine: "segunda-feira" (Monday), "terça-feira" (Tuesday), "quarta-feira" (Wednesday), "quinta-feira" (Thursday), "sexta-feira" (Friday). However, Saturday (sábado) and Sunday (domingo) are masculine. You'll often hear the "-feira" dropped in casual speech for the weekdays.
Moving on to Portuguese Months & Their Gender (Always Masculine!). All months in Portuguese are masculine. This means they are almost always preceded by the definite article "o" (the masculine "the"), even when just stating the month. For instance, "o janeiro" (January), "o março" (March), "o dezembro" (December). You'll use this when talking about events happening in specific months.
Finally, let's master Telling Time: Minutes in Portuguese. To ask the time, you say "Que horas são?" (What time is it?). To answer, you use "É uma hora" (It's one o'clock) for one o'clock, and "São duas horas" (It's two o'clock) for all other hours. For minutes, you simply add them after the hour: "São três e quinze" (It's three fifteen). For half past, you can say "e meia" (and a half), like "São sete e meia" (It's seven thirty). This comprehensive approach to A1 Portuguese will have you navigating daily conversations with ease.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Eu tenho um irmã." (I have one sister.)
✓ Correct: "Eu tenho uma irmã." (I have one sister.)
*Explanation:* The number "um" must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. "Irmã" (sister) is feminine, so it should be "uma".
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "O meu avô tem oitenta dois anos." (My grandfather is eighty-two years old.)
✓ Correct: "O meu avô tem oitenta e dois anos." (My grandfather is eighty-two years old.)
*Explanation:* When forming compound numbers (especially between tens and units), the conjunction "e" (and) is almost always used in Portuguese.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "A sábado é o meu dia favorito." (Saturday is my favorite day.)
✓ Correct: "O sábado é o meu dia favorito." (Saturday is my favorite day.)
*Explanation:* While many weekdays are feminine, "sábado" (Saturday) and "domingo" (Sunday) are masculine and should use the masculine article "o".

Real Conversations

A

A

Que horas são? (What time is it?)
B

B

São dez e meia. (It's half past ten.)
A

A

Quantos livros tens? (How many books do you have?)
B

B

Tenho vinte e um livros. (I have twenty-one books.)
A

A

Quando é o teu aniversário? (When is your birthday?)
B

B

É em agosto. O agosto é um mês quente. (It's in August. August is a warm month.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I say "zero" in Portuguese?

You say "zero" (zero).

Q

Are all numbers in Portuguese masculine?

No, some numbers like "um/uma" (one) and "dois/duas" (two) change their form to agree with the gender of the noun they refer to.

Q

Why are days of the week like segunda-feira feminine?

Days ending in "-feira" (Monday to Friday) are considered feminine because "-feira" historically referred to "feira" (fair or market day), which is a feminine noun.

Q

Do months have gender in Portuguese?

Yes, all months in Portuguese are masculine and are typically preceded by the masculine definite article "o".

Cultural Context

In daily Portuguese life, you'll find these numbers, dates, and times are incredibly practical. Brazilians and Continental Portuguese speakers both use the 24-hour clock for formal contexts (like train schedules), but the 12-hour clock is common in casual conversation, often clarified with "da manhã" (in the morning) or "da tarde/noite" (in the afternoon/evening). For dates, Portugal typically uses dd/mm/yyyy, while Brazil more commonly uses dd/mm/yyyy but sometimes mm/dd/yyyy in informal contexts. Don't be surprised if native speakers sometimes drop the "-feira" from weekdays (e.g., "segunda" instead of "segunda-feira").

Key Examples (8)

1

Eu tenho `zero` irmãos.

I have zero siblings.

Cardinal Numbers: Zero
2

A temperatura vai chegar a `zero` graus hoje à noite.

The temperature will reach zero degrees tonight.

Cardinal Numbers: Zero
3

Eu tenho `vinte e duas` mensagens no WhatsApp.

I have twenty-two messages on WhatsApp.

Portuguese Numbers: Counting and Agreement (1-100+)
4

O combo custa `trinta e um` reais.

The combo costs thirty-one reais.

Portuguese Numbers: Counting and Agreement (1-100+)
5

A segunda-feira é cansativa.

Monday is tiring.

Portuguese Days: Why Monday is "She" and Saturday is "He"
6

Vou à praia no sábado.

I'm going to the beach on Saturday.

Portuguese Days: Why Monday is "She" and Saturday is "He"
7

Meu aniversário é em `maio`.

My birthday is in May.

Portuguese Months & Their Gender (Always Masculine!)
8

O `agosto` deste ano foi muito quente.

This year's August was very hot.

Portuguese Months & Their Gender (Always Masculine!)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Pluralize!

Always use plural nouns after zero.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cardinal Numbers: Zero
💡

Check the Noun

Always look at the noun first. If it ends in -a, it's likely feminine. Use 'uma' or 'duas'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Numbers: Counting and Agreement (1-100+)
💡

The 'Feira' Trick

If you are unsure of the gender, check if the day ends in '-feira'. If yes, it's feminine!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Days: Why Monday is "She" and Saturday is "He"
💡

Lowercase Rule

Always write months in lowercase. It's the biggest sign of a beginner vs. intermediate learner.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Months & Their Gender (Always Masculine!)

Key Vocabulary (8)

zero zero um / uma one segunda-feira Monday janeiro January hora hour meio-dia midday / noon hoje today amanhã tomorrow

Real-World Preview

shopping-cart

At the Bakery

users

Meeting a Friend

Review Summary

  • [Number (M/F)] + [Noun (M/F)]
  • [Day] + -feira

Common Mistakes

Maçã is feminine, so 'dois' must become 'duas'.

Wrong: Eu tenho dois maçãs.
Correct: Eu tenho duas maçãs.

Weekdays ending in -feira are feminine and require the feminine prepositional contraction 'na' (em + a).

Wrong: No segunda-feira.
Correct: Na segunda-feira.

In European Portuguese, 16 is 'dezasseis', while in Brazil it is 'dezesseis'.

Wrong: São dez e dezesseis (in Portugal).
Correct: São dez e dezasseis.

Next Steps

You've just unlocked the ability to function in a Portuguese-speaking society! Keep practicing these numbers; they are the keys to the city.

Write your daily routine with specific times.

Count objects around you in Portuguese as you walk.

Continue to: Describing Your World

Quick Practice (10)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu tenho nulo reais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho zero reais.
Use zero for counting.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cardinal Numbers: Zero

Select the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O maio é lindo.
Masculine agreement.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Months & Their Gender (Always Masculine!)

Choose the correct time.

It is 1:05.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É uma e cinco
1:00 uses 'É'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time: Minutes in Portuguese

Choose the correct form.

Comprei ___ (2) mesas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: duas
Mesa is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Numbers: Counting and Agreement (1-100+)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Tenho trêsas irmãs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: três irmãs
3 is invariant.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Numbers: Counting and Agreement (1-100+)

Fill in the blank with the correct article.

___ janeiro é frio.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O
Months are masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Months & Their Gender (Always Masculine!)

Fill in the verb.

___ duas e dez.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São
Plural hours use 'São'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time: Minutes in Portuguese

Fill in the correct article.

___ segunda-feira é difícil.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A
Monday is feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Portuguese Days: Why Monday is "She" and Saturday is "He"

Choose the correct word.

O contrato é ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nulo
Contracts are void.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cardinal Numbers: Zero

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

São dois e dez.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São duas e dez
Hours must be feminine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Telling Time: Minutes in Portuguese

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, always.
No, use zero.
Portuguese nouns have gender. 'Um' is the masculine form, and 'uma' is the feminine form.
Yes, the last digit must agree. 'Vinte e um' (masc) vs 'Vinte e uma' (fem).
Because they include the word 'feira', which is a feminine noun.
No, they are masculine.
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Nouns and Articles
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Describing Your World
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