Meaning
Refers to the period of darkness from sunset to sunrise.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are very nocturnal. It is common to see families with children in restaurants or parks well into the night, especially in warmer regions. In Portugal, 'à noite' is the prime time for Fado music. Many traditional restaurants in Lisbon only start their Fado performances after 9 PM. The distinction between 'evening' and 'night' is less strict than in English. 'À noite' covers everything from 6 PM until dawn.
The Crase Rule
Always use the accent (à) when 'noite' tells you WHEN. No accent when 'noite' is the WHAT.
Brazil vs Portugal
In Brazil, you can say 'de noite' and sound very natural. In Portugal, 'à noite' is much more dominant.
Meaning
Refers to the period of darkness from sunset to sunrise.
The Crase Rule
Always use the accent (à) when 'noite' tells you WHEN. No accent when 'noite' is the WHAT.
Brazil vs Portugal
In Brazil, you can say 'de noite' and sound very natural. In Portugal, 'à noite' is much more dominant.
Not a Greeting
Never walk into a room and say 'À noite!'. Say 'Boa noite!' instead.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'at night'.
Eu gosto de ver as estrelas ____.
The correct temporal expression is 'à noite' with the grave accent.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
'À noite' is the only correct way to express the time an action occurs.
Match the Portuguese time expression with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
These are the three main periods of the day.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Você estuda de manhã? B: Não, eu estudo ____.
'À noite' is the natural response for a daily routine.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Time of Day Markers
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEu gosto de ver as estrelas ____.
The correct temporal expression is 'à noite' with the grave accent.
Choose the correct sentence:
'À noite' is the only correct way to express the time an action occurs.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the three main periods of the day.
A: Você estuda de manhã? B: Não, eu estudo ____.
'À noite' is the natural response for a daily routine.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsIt's called a 'crase'. it represents the fusion of the preposition 'a' (at) and the article 'a' (the).
Yes, especially in Brazil. It is slightly more informal but very common.
It means both! Portuguese doesn't have a separate common word for 'evening' like English does.
Use 'à noite' for general times. Use 'na noite' for a specific night (e.g., 'na noite do crime').
In Brazil, it's 'noy-chee'. In Portugal, it's 'noy-te'.
It is neutral. It's used in both formal writing and everyday conversation.
Related Phrases
De manhã
contrastIn the morning
À tarde
similarIn the afternoon
De madrugada
specialized formIn the early hours of the morning
Boa noite
similarGood night / Good evening
