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How to Say ‘At half past eight we're already fully booked, I'm sorry.’ in Portuguese

Às oito e meia já está tudo ocupado, lamento.

ash OY-too ee MAY-uh zhah esh-TAH TOO-doo oh-koo-PAH-doo lah-MEN-too

[ash OY-too ee MAY-uh zhah esh-TAH TOO-doo oh-koo-PAH-doo lah-MEN-too]

Phrase Breakdown

Às oito e meia

ash OY-too ee MAY-uh

At half past eight

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

Example

Às oito e meia estou livre.

At half past eight I'm free.

Words in this phrase

Às

[ash]

at (a specific time)

“às” = “a” + “as”; used before clock times (às 10h30).

Example

Sai às 10h30 da plataforma 5.

It leaves at 10:30 from platform 5.

oito

[OY-too]

eight

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

Example

Chego às oito.

I arrive 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.

já está tudo ocupado,

zhah esh-TAH TOO-doo oh-koo-PAH-doo

everything is already taken,

Say it in one breath: 'zhah shTAH TOO-doo oh-koo-PAH-doo'.

Example

Hoje já está tudo ocupado.

Today everything is already taken.

Words in this phrase

já

[zhah]

already

Prior to a specified or implied time.

Example

Já comi meu almoço.

I have already eaten my lunch.

está

[esh-TAH]

3rd person singular of “estar” (“is/are”), used for temporary states/conditions (e.g., whether a seat is free).

Example

Este lugar está livre agora.

This seat is free now.

tudo

[TOO-doo]

everything/all

Refers to all things collectively.

Example

Perdi tudo no incêndio.

I lost everything in the fire.

ocupado

[oh-koo-PAH-doo]

taken / occupied

Describes something not available, like a booked table.

Example

Esta mesa está ocupada.

This table is taken.

lamento.

lah-MEN-too

I'm sorry.

This is a polite apology. Say 'luh-MẼN-too', with a nasal 'en'.

Example

Lamento, não temos mesas.

I'm sorry, we have no tables.

Words in this phrase

lamento

[lah-MEN-too]

I'm sorry

From 'lamentar', to regret; a polite way to say sorry.

Example

Lamento, não temos esse tamanho.

I'm sorry, we don't have that size.

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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