How to Say ‘It was for half past eight’ in Portuguese
Era para as oito e meia
EH-rah PAH-ruh azh OY-too ee MAY-uh
[EH-rah PAH-ruh azh OY-too ee MAY-uh]
💬 Usage Tip: Times take as "the" because horas "hours" is understood: as oito "eight o'clock". Era "it was" softens a confirmation politely, the same way English says "it was for..." about a future booking.
Phrase Breakdown
Era para
EH-rah PAH-ruh
It was for
Using 'era' (past tense) is a polite, softened way to refer to a booking. 'Para' often sounds like 'pra'.
Era para hoje.
It was for today.
Words in this phrase
Era
[EH-rah]
it was
Imperfect past of 'ser' (to be), third person singular.
Era uma casa bonita.
It was a pretty house.
para
[PAH-ruh]
for
Preposition used to show who something matters to.
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' with a 'z' sound: 'a-zoito'. 'E meia' means 'and a half'. Say 'MEI-a'.
O filme começa às oito e meia.
The film starts at half past eight.
Words in this phrase
as
[azh]
the
Plural feminine definite article, used before feminine plural nouns.
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.
Chegamos às oito.
We arrive at eight.
e
[ee]
and
A simple connector joining two qualities or ideas.
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.
É uma e meia.
It's half past one.
Guides for Portuguese learners
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Lessons for Your Situation
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lisbon with zero Portuguese and honestly thought I’d be pointing at menus forever. Three weeks in and I’m having real conversations with my landlord.”
Priya N., 35, Freelance Designer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer