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How to Say ‘How long does it last, more or less?’ in Portuguese

Quanto tempo dura, mais ou menos?

KWAHN-too TEM-poo DOO-ruh mysh oh MEH-noosh

[KWAHN-too TEM-poo DOO-ruh mysh oh MEH-noosh]

Phrase Breakdown

Quanto tempo dura,

KWAHN-too TEM-poo DOO-ruh

How long does it last,

Say 'KWAN-too TAYM-poo DOO-ruh' and pause at the comma.

Example

Quanto tempo dura o filme?

How long is the film?

Words in this phrase

Quanto

[KWAHN-too]

how much / how long

With 'tempo' it asks about duration.

Example

Há quanto tempo mora aqui?

How long have you lived here?

tempo

[TEM-poo]

time

Refers to the other person's availability or minutes spent with you.

Example

Agradeci o «tempo» que dedicou à nossa conversa.

I thanked the “time” that you dedicated to our conversation.

dura

[DOO-ruh]

lasts

From 'durar', to last; describes how long something takes.

Example

O filme dura duas horas.

The film lasts two hours.

mais ou menos?

mysh oh MEH-noosh

roughly?

Say 'MYZ oh MEH-noosh' with rising intonation. It softens the question.

Example

São duas horas, mais ou menos.

It's about two hours.

Words in this phrase

mais

[mysh]

Used to ask for additional information or greater quantity.

Example

Quero saber mais antes de me candidatar.

I want to know more before applying.

[oh]

Used to present an alternative in a question or comparison.

Example

No networking, posso perguntar se o ambiente é formal ou descontraído.

In networking, I can ask whether the atmosphere is formal or relaxed.

menos

[MEH-noosh]

less

Opposite of 'mais'.

Example

Quero menos açúcar.

I want less sugar.

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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