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How to Say ‘It was for half past eight, if I'm not mistaken.’ in Portuguese

Era para as oito e meia, se não me engano.

EH-rah PAH-ruh azh OY-too ee MAY-uh suh NOWN mee ehn-GAH-noo

[EH-rah PAH-ruh azh OY-too ee MAY-uh suh NOWN mee ehn-GAH-noo]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Adding se não me engano is a polite way to check details without sounding demanding. It's very natural in this kind of phone call.

Phrase Breakdown

Era para

EH-rah PAH-ruh

It was for

A soft, polite opening. Say 'É-ra pra'.

Example

Era para amanhã.

It was for tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

Era

[EH-rah]

it was

Imperfect past of 'ser' (to be), third person singular.

Example

Era uma casa bonita.

It was a pretty house.

para

[PAH-ruh]

for

Preposition used to show who something matters to.

Example

Este tipo de ambiente é ideal para quem gosta de colaborar.

This type of environment is ideal for someone who likes collaborating.

as oito e meia,

azh OY-too ee MAY-uh

half past eight,

Link 'as oito' as 'a-zoito'. Pause briefly at the comma.

Example

Janto às oito e meia.

I have dinner at half past eight.

Words in this phrase

[azh]

the

Plural feminine definite article, used before feminine plural nouns.

Example

As pessoas parecem abertas a perguntas no evento.

The people seem open to questions at the event.

oito

[OY-too]

eight

The number 8; with 'as' it refers to eight o'clock.

Example

Chegamos às oito.

We 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.

se não me engano.

suh NOWN mee ehn-GAH-noo

if I'm not mistaken.

A very common phrase that shows you're not completely sure. It flows as 'se-não-meen-GA-no'.

Example

Ele mora em Braga, se não me engano.

He lives in Braga, if I'm not mistaken.

Words in this phrase

[suh]

A conjunction used to introduce a condition politely.

Example

Comecei com «Se» for possível para fazer um pedido com cuidado.

I started with “If” possible to make a request carefully.

não

[NOWN]

not

Used to negate the meaning of a word or group of words.

Example

Não quero comer agora.

I don't want to eat now.

[mee]

Used by a speaker to refer to themselves.

Example

Ele me ajudou.

He helped me.

engano

[ehn-GAH-noo]

I am mistaken

From 'enganar-se', to be wrong; 'se não me engano' means 'if I'm not mistaken'.

Example

Acho que me engano sempre no caminho.

I think I always get the way wrong.

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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