Numbers & Misc

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Numbers

 

Some numbers in Portuguese are masculine or feminine and require agreement with the subject/noun. For example, if the subject being talked about is masculine then you need to use the masculine of the number being used in the sentence. In the table below, if a particular number is masculine or feminine then it will be marked liked this - number/number.

 

Portuguese Numbers
0 = zero 1 = um/uma 2 = dois/duas 3 = três
4 = quatro 5 = cinco 6 = seis 7 = sete
8 = oito 9 = nove 10 = dez 11 = onze
12 = doze 13 = treze 14 = catorze 15 = quinze
16 = dezesseis 17 = dezessete 18 = dezoito 19 = dezenove
20 = vinte 21 = vinte e um 22 = vinte e dois 23 = vinte e três
24 = vinte e quatro 25 = vinte e cinco 26 = vinte e seis 27 = vinte e sete
28 = vinte e oito 29 = vinte e nove 30 = trinta 31 = trinta e um
32 = trinta e dois ect, ect 40 = quarenta 50 = cinqüenta 60 = sessenta
70 = setenta 80 = oitenta 90 = noventa 100 = cem
101 = cento e um 102 = cento e dois 103 = cento e três 104 = cento e quatro ect,ect
200 = duzentos/as 300 = trezentos/as 400 = quatrocentos/as 500 = quinhentos/as
600 = seiscentos/as 700 = setecentos/as 800 = oitocentos/as 900 = novecentos/as
1,000 = mil 1,001 = mil e um 1,002 = mil e dois 1,003 = mil e três ect,ect
1 million = um milhão 1 billion = um bilhão 1 trillion = um trilhão 2 million = dois milhões

 

Note: The numbers 1 million and above are masculine numbers and if the number is greater than 1 then they use the plural. Example - 2 million = dois milhôes. Also, if a noun follows these numbers then the preposition (de) is required. Example - 1 million people = um milhão de pessoas and the number 6 is often expressed as meia (meaning half).

 

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Questions

 

The purpose for this area is to talk about questions in Portuguese because in Portuguese they are structured a little different than in English. Generally, if you want to ask a question, use it in the form of a statement instead. Take a look below for some of my examples (Note: take the literal translation with a grain of salt. I only use it as a reference):

 

Question in English Question in Portuguese Literal translation
Are you from here? Você é daqui? You are from here?
Do you have children? Você tem filhos? You have children?
Are you going to the store later? vai ir ao mercado mais tarde? You are going to go to the store later?

 

There are situations where you will use questions like in the English language but, mostly you will be using words called "Interrogatives" to open the questions for these types of situations. Below is a list of common interrogatives:

  • Why = Por que (Note: The spellings of why and because are slightly different but are pronounced the same)
  • Where = Onde
  • What = O que
  • How = Como
  • when = Quando
  • How much,many = Quanto/os/as
  • Who = Quem

 

Below I have included some examples:

 

  • Where is the hotel? = Onde fica o hotel?
  • How do you say? = Como você se diz?
  • When do you arrive? = Quando você vai chegar?

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Expressing time

 

Time expressions in Portuguese can be, as with the English language, expressed in many ways. Follow my examples from the table below for some more common expressions used. The most common expressions you will hear when asked for the time by Brazilians are:

 

  • What time is it? = Que horas são?
  • What time do you have? = Que horas tem?

 

I will use a variety of times in the examples below:

 

Time In Portuguese In English Literal translation
3 oclock São três horas It is three oclock Are 3 hours
1 oclock é uma hora It is 1 oclock It is 1 hour
10 minutes to 3 oclock são dez minutos para três horas It is 10 minutes to 3 oclock Are 10 minutes to 3 horas
noon é meio-dia It is noon It is noon
midnight é meia-noite It is nidnight It is nidnight
ten thirty são dez e meia It is 10 thirty Are 10 and half

 

You noticed above that I used the words - são (are) and - é (it is). This is because, in Portuguese when expressing time, you are talking about the hour (singular) or hours (plural). Remember in Portuguese everything is feminine or masculine, and the subject of discussion is the "hour". Hora (hour) in Portuguese is feminine so it will use a feminine number.

 

Another thing I need to explain with time expressions is if you are planning a meeting or are talking about a time in the future or past, then you need to differentiate between night and day (three oclock in the morning or 3 oclock in the afternoon?). One way to differentiate time is to use the 24 hour clock (military time). Look at the table below:

 

In Portuguese In English
às treze horas at 13 hundred hours (1 oclock)
às vinte horas at 20 hundred hours (8 oclock)
às quinze horas at 15 hundred hours (3 oclock)

 

One other way to differentiate the hour from day to night is to use the preposition (de). Again below:

 

In Portuguese In English
às três horas de manhã at 3 oclock in the morning
às três horas de tarde at 3 oclock in the afternoon
às sete horas de noite at 7 oclock at night

 

Expressing future times you can say:

 

  • It is going to be 1 oclock = Vai dar uma hora
  • It is going to be 3 pm = Vai dar três horas de tarde
  • Vai dar uma hora de manhã = It is going to be 1 am
  • It is going to be 8:30pm = Vai dar vinte e meia

 

 
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