A1 Present Tense 16 min read Easy

Telling Time in Portuguese: Is it É or São?

Match the verb 'ser' to the hour: singular for one, plural for everything else.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'É' for one o'clock and 'São' for all other hours because Portuguese treats time as a plural concept.

  • Use 'É' only for 1:00 (É uma hora).
  • Use 'São' for all other hours (São duas horas, São dez horas).
  • Always use the feminine article 'a' or 'as' before the hour.
É + uma + hora / São + [2-12] + horas

Overview

Expressing the current time accurately in Portuguese requires a fundamental understanding of how the verb ser (to be) interacts with numerical agreement. Unlike English, which consistently uses a singular phrase like "It is" regardless of the hour, Portuguese employs both the singular form é and the plural form são for "It is" when stating the time. This distinction is crucial for both comprehension and fluency, even at the A1 beginner level.

The grammatical choice between é and são is directly linked to the number of hours being stated. If the time refers to a singular concept – specifically one o'clock, midday, or midnight – the singular é is obligatory. For any other hour, which inherently represents a plural quantity (two hours, three hours, and so on), the plural são is used.

Mastering this core principle of agreement is essential for correctly communicating temporal information in Portuguese.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Verb ser (Present Tense) Translation (Contextual)
:---------------- :--------------------------- :-------------------------
Ele/Ela/Você/Isso É It is (singular)
Eles/Elas/Vocês São They are (plural)

How This Grammar Works

Portuguese perceives time as an inherent characteristic or an identity of the moment itself, which is why the verb ser is consistently employed. This contrasts with estar, the other verb for "to be," which typically denotes temporary states or locations. The central principle governing the choice between é and são is number agreement with the noun hora (hour), which is always feminine.
When you state uma hora (one o'clock), you are referring to a singular hour. Consequently, the verb ser must also be in its singular form, resulting in É uma hora. The numeral uma itself is the feminine form of "one," agreeing in gender and number with hora.
Conversely, if the time is duas horas (two o'clock), you are referring to a plural quantity of hours. This necessitates the plural form of ser, leading to São duas horas. Here, duas is the feminine plural of "two," agreeing with horas.
This grammatical structure extends to other key temporal markers, which are treated as singular concepts:
  • Meio-dia (midday/noon) is always considered a singular, masculine concept. Thus, you say É meio-dia. You would not use an article before meio-dia in this construction. É meio-dia e meia (It's half past noon) also maintains the singular é because meio-dia is the core singular concept.
  • Meia-noite (midnight) is similarly treated as a singular, feminine concept. This leads to É meia-noite. Again, no article typically precedes meia-noite. For instance, É meia-noite e vinte (It's twelve twenty AM) uses é because meia-noite is singular.
Minutes are connected to the hour using the conjunction e (and). So, to say 1:15, you state É uma e quinze. For 3:30, you would say São três e meia (literally "three and a half [hour]").
The e functions as a simple connector, indicating the addition of minutes to the hour, reinforcing the idea of building the time incrementally: hour and minutes. This applies whether the hour is singular or plural; the e simply bridges the hour and minute components.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming statements about the current time in Portuguese follows a consistent and predictable sequence. Following this pattern ensures both grammatical accuracy and clarity in your communication.
2
Choose the correct form of ser:
3
Use É when the hour is singular: uma hora (one o'clock), meio-dia (noon), and meia-noite (midnight). Example: É uma hora da tarde. (It's one PM.)
4
Use São for all other hours, from two o'clock onwards, as these are plural. Example: São três horas da manhã. (It's three AM.)
5
Add the definite article (if applicable):
6
Use a for uma hora because hora is a singular feminine noun. Example: É a uma hora. (Commonly, the article a is omitted for uma hora in informal speech, becoming É uma hora.)
7
Use as for plural hours (from duas horas onwards) because horas is a plural feminine noun. Example: São as cinco horas. (The article as is frequently omitted in speech, becoming São cinco horas.)
8
Important Exception: No article is typically used with meio-dia or meia-noite when telling the current time. You say É meio-dia and É meia-noite.
9
State the hour:
10
Always use the feminine form of the numeral to agree with hora (implicitly or explicitly). For instance, use uma (not um), duas (not dois), três, quatro, etc. Examples: É uma hora. São duas horas.
11
Connect minutes with e (and):
12
If minutes are present, insert e followed by the number of minutes. Example: São dez e vinte. (It's 10:20.)
13
Specify parts of the hour (optional special terms):
14
For half past, use e meia (literally "and half," referring to meia hora). Example: São três e meia. (It's 3:30.)
15
For quarter past, you can use e quinze or, less commonly, e um quarto (more in European Portuguese). Example: É uma e quinze. (It's 1:15.)
16
For quarter to (e.g., 2:45), you typically say the current hour and then the minutes remaining, or the upcoming hour less the minutes. More common is São três menos quinze (It's three minus fifteen), especially in European Portuguese, or simply São duas e quarenta e cinco (It's two forty-five) in Brazilian Portuguese.
17
Indicate the period of the day (optional but common for clarity):
18
da manhã (in the morning) – typically from midnight to noon. Example: É uma hora da manhã. (It's 1 AM.)
19
da tarde (in the afternoon) – typically from noon to around 6 or 7 PM. Example: São cinco horas da tarde. (It's 5 PM.)
20
da noite (in the evening/at night) – typically from 6 or 7 PM to midnight. Example: São oito horas da noite. (It's 8 PM.)
21
Here is a summary of common patterns:
22
| Time | Pattern Example | Translation |
23
|:-----------------------|:----------------------------|:------------------------|
24
| 1:00 | É uma (hora). | It's one o'clock. |
25
| 12:00 (noon) | É meio-dia. | It's noon. |
26
| 00:00 (midnight) | É meia-noite. | It's midnight. |
27
| 2:00 | São duas (horas). | It's two o'clock. |
28
| 3:15 | São três e quinze. | It's 3:15. |
29
| 4:30 | São quatro e meia. | It's 4:30. |
30
| 7:45 | São sete e quarenta e cinco. | It's 7:45. |
31
| 8:00 PM | São oito horas da noite. | It's 8 PM. |

When To Use It

This grammatical construction is essential for directly stating the current time or a specific moment. You will encounter and use it daily across various contexts in Portuguese-speaking environments, from casual conversations to more formal settings.
  • Answering Que horas são? (What time is it?): This is the most direct application. When someone asks for the current time, your response will invariably employ É or São followed by the hour and minutes. For instance, if it's 10:00 AM, you would reply, São dez horas da manhã. If it's 1:00 PM, you'd say, É uma hora da tarde.
  • Scheduling and Appointments: When discussing meeting times, event schedules, or deadlines, you might integrate this structure into your sentences. For example, A reunião é às três da tarde, mas agora são duas e quinze. (The meeting is at three in the afternoon, but now it's 2:15.)
  • Making Plans Informally: In casual communication, such as text messages or chats with friends, you will frequently use this pattern. For example: Chego aí em 10 minutos. São sete e meia aqui. (I'll be there in 10 minutes. It's 7:30 here.)
  • Providing Information: In both formal and informal settings, this construction conveys a specific time. A train station announcement might inform passengers: A partida do comboio é às onze e meia. (The train's departure is at 11:30.) Or a store clerk might state: A loja fecha quando são nove da noite. (The store closes when it's nine PM.)
  • In Narratives or Descriptions: When recounting daily routines, past events, or describing sequences of actions, you use É/São to punctuate time. Acordo quando é sete horas da manhã. (I wake up when it's seven in the morning.) Ele liga sempre que são cinco da tarde. (He always calls when it's five in the afternoon.)

When Not To Use It

While crucial for stating the current time, the É/São construction is not universally applicable for all temporal expressions. Its use is specifically for the direct statement of "It is [time]." You should avoid using É/São in the following contexts:
  • When asking or stating at what time an event occurs: For this, you use A que horas...? (At what time...?). The response will typically involve às (feminine plural for "at the") or à (feminine singular for "at the"), followed by the hour. For example, A que horas é a reunião? (At what time is the meeting?) Answer: É às dez da manhã. (It's at ten AM.) Or O almoço é à uma. (Lunch is at one.) You would not say É São dez da manhã or É É uma in this context.
  • When referring to the duration of an event: For durations, you use different structures, often involving por (for) or specifying a time span. For example, A aula dura uma hora. (The class lasts one hour.) rather than É uma hora.
  • When expressing since a certain time: You would use desde que horas...? (since what time...?) or desde as/a... For instance, Estou aqui desde as duas da tarde. (I've been here since two PM.)
  • When counting hours, not telling the time: If you are simply counting "hours," you use the cardinal numbers directly. Example: Eu trabalhei oito horas hoje. (I worked eight hours today.) Here, horas is simply a count, not the time on a clock.

Common Mistakes

Portuguese learners, especially at the A1 level, frequently make specific errors when telling time. Awareness of these can significantly improve your accuracy.
  • Using estar instead of ser: A very common mistake is saying Está uma hora or Estão duas horas. Remember, ser is used for permanent states and identity, and Portuguese considers the time of day a permanent characteristic of that moment. Estar refers to temporary states or locations. Always use ser (é/são) for telling the current time.
  • Incorrect number agreement: Saying São uma hora or É duas horas are common errors. The verb must agree with the hour: É uma hora (singular uma) and São duas horas (plural duas). This is the core rule to internalize.
  • Confusing meio-dia and meia-noite: While both are singular concepts, they have different genders and meanings. Meio-dia is masculine (noon), and meia-noite is feminine (midnight). Ensure you use the correct term: É meio-dia and É meia-noite.
  • Forgetting or misusing definite articles: While often omitted in casual speech, correctly understanding the role of a/as can prevent confusion. Remember a for uma hora and as for duas horas and beyond. The absence of an article with meio-dia and meia-noite can also be a point of confusion for learners.
  • Using masculine numerals for hours: The word hora is feminine. Therefore, when counting hours, you must use the feminine forms of the numbers um and dois. It's always uma hora and duas horas, never um hora or dois horas.
  • Literal translation of "quarter to": While some regions (especially European Portuguese) might use menos (e.g., São três menos quinze for 2:45), a direct translation of "quarter to" is not universally understood. It is safer for A1 learners to state the hour and minutes: São duas e quarenta e cinco.

Memory Trick

To consistently remember when to use é versus são for telling time, focus on the number one. The number one is special, unique, and singular. All other numbers are plural, even if it's just two.

- Think: "One is singular, all others are plural."

- If it's uma (one), use É (singular verb).

- É uma hora. (It's one o'clock.)

- É meio-dia. (It's noon.)

- É meia-noite. (It's midnight.)

- If it's duas (two) or any number greater, use São (plural verb).

- São duas horas. (It's two o'clock.)

- São dez e quinze. (It's 10:15.)

This simple rule, focusing on whether the hour count is "one" or "more than one," is an effective mental shortcut to apply the correct verb form quickly.

Real Conversations

Understanding how native speakers actually communicate time beyond textbook examples provides valuable insight into fluency. Here's how É and São appear in modern, everyday Portuguese across different contexts:

Casual Text/Chat (Brazilian Portuguese):

- Tá chegando? São 8:30 já! (Are you arriving? It's 8:30 already!)

- Notice the informal abbreviation Tá for Está.

- Te ligo quando for meio-dia, ok? (I'll call you when it's noon, ok?)

- Here, for is the future subjunctive, used for future actions dependent on a time. The underlying meio-dia still triggers a singular concept.

- A aula começa às 9. Mas são 9:05 e nada. (Class starts at 9. But it's 9:05 and nothing.)

Everyday Dialogue (European Portuguese):

- Desculpa o atraso, são três e um quarto! (Sorry for being late, it's a quarter past three!)

- Um quarto is more common here for "quarter past" than quinze.

- Já é meia-noite? Tenho de ir. (Is it midnight already? I have to go.)

- O comboio parte às seis, e são cinco e meia. (The train leaves at six, and it's five-thirty.)

Work Email/Slightly Formal:

- Informamos que a reunião será às 14h. Atualmente, são 10:00, dando tempo para preparação. (We inform that the meeting will be at 2 PM. Currently, it's 10:00 AM, allowing time for preparation.)

- Note the use of 14h for 24-hour format, common in formal contexts. Even so, the são refers to the plural hours implicitly.

- O prazo final para entrega é quando for 17h. (The final deadline for submission is when it's 5 PM.)

Native speakers often omit the word horas and even the articles a/as in casual speech, especially when the context is clear. For instance, São dez e quinze is perfectly natural instead of São dez horas e quinze minutos.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To truly grasp É/São for telling time, it helps to distinguish it from other temporal expressions that might seem similar but serve different purposes.

É/São (It is [time]) vs. A que horas...? (At what time...?):
É/São answers Que horas são? and describes the current time. São três da tarde. (It's three PM.)
A que horas...? asks about the time an event occurs. The response typically uses às (at the plural hours) or à (at the singular hour). A que horas começa o filme? (At what time does the movie start?) Começa às nove da noite. (It starts at nine PM.) Note the use of às as a contraction of a (at) + as (the).
Ser (telling time) vs. Estar (temporary state/location):
This is a fundamental distinction. Ser is for permanent, identity-defining qualities. Estar is for temporary states, locations, or conditions. Time, in Portuguese, is an identity. You are saying "This moment is three o'clock." You would never use estar for the clock time. You might use estar to describe being on time (Estou na hora) or late (Estou atrasado/a), but not for what the clock says.
Counting Hours vs. Telling Time:
When you are simply counting a quantity of hours, you use numbers as adjectives. Faltam duas horas para o show. (There are two hours left until the show.) O voo dura dez horas. (The flight lasts ten hours.) Here, duas and dez are just counts. When telling time, É/São refers to the specific point on the clock.

Progressive Practice

1

Mastering É/São for telling time requires consistent, varied practice. Approach it systematically to build confidence.

2

- Daily Time Checks: Make it a habit to verbally state the time in Portuguese throughout your day. Every time you check a clock or glance at your phone, say É uma e quarenta e cinco or São dez e dez to yourself.

3

- Question and Answer Drills: Practice answering Que horas são? with various times. Have a study partner or use a flashcard app to quiz yourself.

4

- Listening Comprehension: Pay close attention to how time is expressed in Portuguese media (podcasts, news, TV shows). Note whether horas and articles are included or omitted. This will help you discern natural speech patterns.

5

- Sentence Building: Create short sentences incorporating time. For example, "I have lunch at 1 PM" (Almoço à uma da tarde.). "The meeting starts when it's 9:45 AM" (A reunião começa quando são nove e quarenta e cinco da manhã.).

6

- Dictation: Listen to Portuguese sentences telling time and write them down, focusing on É or São and correct numeral forms.

Quick FAQ

Here are quick answers to common questions about telling time in Portuguese:
  • Why ser and not estar?
  • Portuguese considers the time of day a permanent characteristic or identity of that moment, hence the use of ser (to be – permanent) rather than estar (to be – temporary).
  • Do I always say horas after the number?
  • No. While grammatically correct to include horas (e.g., São duas horas), it is very common, especially in informal speech, to omit it (e.g., São duas). You must include uma or duas (etc.), but horas is often optional if context is clear.
  • Is e quinze or e um quarto better for quarter past?
  • E quinze is widely understood and common in both Brazilian and European Portuguese. E um quarto is also correct, particularly common in European Portuguese, but slightly less frequent in Brazil.
  • How do I say "quarter to"?
  • The most common and clear way is to state the hour and minutes: São três e quarenta e cinco (for 3:45). In European Portuguese, São quatro menos quinze (four minus fifteen) is also used.
  • What about 24-hour time?
  • The 24-hour clock (e.g., 14h for 2 PM) is common in formal contexts (schedules, official announcements) in both Portuguese variants. When speaking, you typically convert to 12-hour and add da tarde/da noite as needed. So, São quatorze horas would more naturally be spoken as São duas horas da tarde.

Verb Ser for Time

Time Verb Number Noun
1:00
É
uma
hora
2:00
São
duas
horas
3:00
São
três
horas
4:00
São
quatro
horas
5:00
São
cinco
horas
6:00
São
seis
horas
7:00
São
sete
horas
8:00
São
oito
horas
9:00
São
nove
horas
10:00
São
dez
horas

Meanings

The verb 'ser' is used to state the current time, requiring agreement with the number of hours.

1

Clock time

Stating the current hour.

“É uma hora.”

“São cinco horas.”

2

Time of day

Specifying the period of the day.

“São duas da manhã.”

“É uma da tarde.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Telling Time in Portuguese: Is it É or São?
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
É/São + [num] + horas
São três horas.
Negative
Não é/são + [num] + horas
Não são três horas.
Question
Que horas são?
Que horas são?
Short Answer
É uma / São duas
São duas.
Time of Day
São + [num] + da [period]
São duas da tarde.
Approximation
São quase + [num]
São quase dez.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Poderia me informar as horas?

Poderia me informar as horas? (Asking for time)

Neutral
Que horas são?

Que horas são? (Asking for time)

Informal
Que horas são?

Que horas são? (Asking for time)

Slang
Qual a boa?

Qual a boa? (Asking for time)

Time Decision Tree

1

Is it 1:00?

YES
Use 'É uma hora'
NO
Use 'São [number] horas'
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Examples by Level

1

É uma hora.

It is one o'clock.

2

São duas horas.

It is two o'clock.

3

São cinco horas.

It is five o'clock.

4

São dez horas.

It is ten o'clock.

1

Que horas são?

What time is it?

2

É uma da tarde.

It is one in the afternoon.

3

São oito da noite.

It is eight at night.

4

São quatro da manhã.

It is four in the morning.

1

Não são três horas ainda.

It is not three o'clock yet.

2

Será que são seis horas?

Is it six o'clock?

3

São quase sete horas.

It is almost seven o'clock.

4

São exatamente onze horas.

It is exactly eleven o'clock.

1

Disseram que são dez horas.

They said it is ten o'clock.

2

Embora sejam duas horas, estou cansado.

Although it is two o'clock, I am tired.

3

São horas de ir embora.

It is time to leave.

4

São horas de almoço.

It is lunch time.

1

São horas que não passam.

The hours are not passing.

2

São horas de reflexão.

It is time for reflection.

3

São horas de o fazer.

It is time to do it.

4

São horas de partir.

It is time to depart.

1

São horas de se tomar uma decisão.

It is time to make a decision.

2

São horas de se agir.

It is time to act.

3

São horas de se pensar no futuro.

It is time to think about the future.

4

São horas de se mudar.

It is time to change.

Easily Confused

Telling Time in Portuguese: Is it É or São? vs Ser vs Estar

Learners use 'estar' for time.

Telling Time in Portuguese: Is it É or São? vs Um vs Uma

Learners use masculine 'um' for time.

Telling Time in Portuguese: Is it É or São? vs É vs São

Learners use 'é' for all numbers.

Common Mistakes

✗

É duas horas

✓

São duas horas

Plural hours require plural verb.
✗

São uma hora

✓

É uma hora

Singular hour requires singular verb.
✗

É dois horas

✓

São duas horas

Must use feminine number.
✗

São um hora

✓

É uma hora

Must use feminine number.
✗

Que hora é?

✓

Que horas são?

The question is always plural.
✗

São 14 horas

✓

São duas da tarde

Casual speech uses 12-hour clock.
✗

É 13:00

✓

É uma da tarde

Use words for time.
✗

Estão três horas

✓

São três horas

Time is always 'ser'.
✗

São três da dia

✓

São três da tarde

Use correct period.
✗

São três da noite

✓

São três da manhã

3 AM is morning.
✗

São horas de comer

✓

São horas de almoçar

Use specific verbs.
✗

É horas de ir

✓

São horas de ir

Idiomatic expression is plural.
✗

São as três

✓

São três

Article is optional but often omitted.

Sentence Patterns

São ___ horas.

É ___ da tarde.

São quase ___ horas.

São horas de ___.

Real World Usage

Social media common

São 20h, vamos live!

Texting constant

São 5? Ok.

Job interview common

São nove horas, podemos começar.

Travel common

São dez da manhã.

Food delivery common

São horas de pedir pizza.

Public transport very common

O trem é às seis.

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💡

Use the clock

Look at an analog clock to practice.
⚠️

Don't use 'estar'

Time is always 'ser'.
🎯

Use 'da manhã/tarde/noite'

It helps clarify the time.
💬

Be precise

In Portugal, being on time is important.

Smart Tips

Check if it is 1.

São uma hora. → É uma hora.

Always use plural.

Que hora é? → Que horas são?

Add 'da manhã/tarde/noite'.

São três. → São três da tarde.

Use words, not digits.

São 3h. → São três horas.

Pronunciation

/ɛ/ vs /sɐ̃w̃/

É vs São

É sounds like 'eh', São sounds like 'sown'.

Question

Que horas são? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

One is lonely, so it uses 'É'. Two or more are a crowd, so they use 'São'.

Visual Association

Imagine a single clock hand (1) pointing to a singular 'É'. Imagine a clock with many hands (2-12) pointing to a plural 'São'.

Rhyme

Para uma hora, usamos o É, para as outras, o São é o que se vê.

Story

Maria looked at her watch. It was 1:00, so she said 'É uma hora'. Then she waited. When it became 2:00, she said 'São duas horas'. She realized the clock grew, so the verb had to grow too.

Word Web

ÉSãoumaduashorasda manhãda tardeda noite

Challenge

Look at your watch every hour today and say the time out loud in Portuguese.

Cultural Notes

Brazilians often drop the 'horas' in casual speech, saying 'São duas'.

European Portuguese speakers are very precise with time.

Time is often expressed with reference to the sun.

Derived from Latin 'esse' (to be).

Conversation Starters

“

Que horas são?

“

A que horas é a aula?

“

São horas de almoçar?

“

Você acha que são horas de mudar?

Journal Prompts

Write about your daily routine using the time.
Describe a busy day at work.
Reflect on the importance of time.
Write a story where time is the main theme.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the verb.

___ uma hora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É
1 is singular.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ duas horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São
2 is plural.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

É duas horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São duas horas
Plural verb needed.
Order the words. Sentence Building

horas / são / três

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São três horas
Correct word order.
Conjugate for 5. Conjugation Drill

___ cinco horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São
5 is plural.
Match time to verb. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É/São
1 is singular, 4 is plural.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Que horas são? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É uma
1 is singular.
Is this true? True False Rule

We use 'estar' for time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Time is 'ser'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the verb.

___ uma hora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É
1 is singular.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ duas horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São
2 is plural.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

É duas horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São duas horas
Plural verb needed.
Order the words. Sentence Building

horas / são / três

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São três horas
Correct word order.
Conjugate for 5. Conjugation Drill

___ cinco horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São
5 is plural.
Match time to verb. Match Pairs

1:00 vs 4:00

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É/São
1 is singular, 4 is plural.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Que horas são? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É uma
1 is singular.
Is this true? True False Rule

We use 'estar' for time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Time is 'ser'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank for 3:30. Fill in the Blank

São três e ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meia
How do you say 8:00 PM? Multiple Choice

Choose the best option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São oito da noite.
Fix the mistake for 1:15. Error Correction

São uma e quinze.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É uma e quinze.
Translate to Portuguese: 'It is midnight.' Translation

It is midnight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: É meia-noite.
Put the words in order for 5:20. Sentence Reorder

vinte / e / cinco / São

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São cinco e vinte
Match the English to Portuguese. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1:00 = É uma
Complete for 'At 2 o'clock'. Fill in the Blank

Vemo-nos ___ duas horas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: às
Which is 12:30 PM? Multiple Choice

Identify 12:30 PM:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Meio-dia e meia
Fix: 'São quatro da tarde' for 4:00 PM. Error Correction

São quatro da tarde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São quatro da tarde.
Translate: 'It is 10:00 AM.' Translation

It is 10:00 AM.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: São dez da manhã.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because 'uma' is singular and 'duas' is plural.

Yes, but it is less common in casual speech.

Yes, it is always feminine.

You say 'É uma e meia'.

It is a fixed idiomatic expression.

It is preferred for clarity.

The grammar is the same, but pronunciation varies.

No, that is grammatically incorrect.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

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Improving

Strong

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Son las...

Very similar structure.

French low

Il est...

French is always singular.

German low

Es ist...

German is always singular.

Japanese none

...ji desu

No verb conjugation for time.

Arabic low

Al-sa'atu...

Different numerical system.

Chinese none

...dian

No verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Portuguese Verb 'Ter' (To Have/Age)
Next
Expressing Age: I 'Have' Years (Ter + Anos)

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