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How to Say ‘It's quarter past three.’ in Portuguese

São três e um quarto.

sawn TREHSS ee oom KWAR-too

[sawn TREHSS ee oom KWAR-too]

Phrase Breakdown

São três

sawn TREHSS

It's three

This gives the hour. The 's' of 'três' becomes a 'z' sound before a vowel: 'tre-zee'.

Example

São três da tarde.

It's three in the afternoon.

Words in this phrase

São

[sawn]

are/is

Used to convey the total cost in pricing sentences.

Example

Os cafés são 1,50€, por favor.

The coffees are 1.50€, please.

três

[TREHSS]

Three

Equivalent to the sum of one and two; one more than two.

Example

Eu comprei três livros na feira.

I bought three books at the fair.

e um quarto.

ee oom KWAR-too

and a quarter (quarter past).

'E um quarto' means quarter past. 'Quarto' is 'KWAR-too'.

Example

O filme começa às nove e um quarto.

The film starts at quarter past nine.

Words in this phrase

[ee]

and

A simple connector joining two qualities or ideas.

Example

Procuro um ambiente aberto e humano.

I am looking for an open and human environment.

[oom]

a / one

Masculine singular indefinite article used before café.

Example

Um café pode ser uma boa ideia para conversar.

A coffee can be a good idea for talking.

quarto

[KWAR-too]

quarter

A quarter of an hour, 15 minutes.

Example

Espero um quarto de hora.

I'll wait a quarter of an hour.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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