🔄🕣

How to Say ‘Around half past eight’ in Portuguese

Por volta das oito e meia

poor VOL-tah dahsh OY-too ee MAY-uh

[poor VOL-tah dahsh OY-too ee MAY-uh]

💬 Usage Tip: Por volta is always followed by de, which merges with the article in front of the time: de + as becomes das. For one o'clock it's por volta da uma.

Phrase Breakdown

Por volta

poor VOL-tah

Around

This expression means 'approximately'. Say 'poor VOHL-tuh', with a dark 'l'.

Example

Chego por volta do meio-dia.

I'll arrive around noon.

Words in this phrase

Por

[poor]

around (in 'por volta de')

Part of the phrase 'por volta de', meaning approximately.

Example

Chego por volta das nove.

I arrive around nine.

volta

[VOL-tah]

around (in 'por volta de')

With 'por', forms 'about/around' for times.

Example

Por volta do meio-dia.

Around noon.

das oito e meia

dahsh OY-too ee MAY-uh

half past eight

Link the words smoothly: 'dah-ZOY-too ee MAY-uh'.

Example

O filme começa às oito e meia.

The film starts at half past eight.

Words in this phrase

das

[dahsh]

at the (feminine plural); used in time expressions meaning “at”

In European Portuguese, “das” = “de + as” and is commonly used before times (hours) to mean “at (a certain time)”.

Example

O comboio parte das 11:50 da estação de Campanhã.

The train departs at 11:50 from Campanhã station.

oito

[OY-too]

eight

The number 8; with times, eight o'clock.

Example

Jantamos às oito.

We have dinner at eight.

[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.

meia

[MAY-uh]

half

Feminine form of 'meio'; used for 'half past' when telling the time.

Example

É uma e meia.

It's half past one.

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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