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How to Say ‘Around’ in Portuguese

Por volta

poor VOL-tah

[poor VOL-tah]

💬 Usage Tip: Por volta de means "around" for approximate times or places. Before as, it contracts: por volta das 11:50, just like de + as = das.

Phrase Breakdown

Por

[poor]

around / approximately

“por” here is part of the expression “por volta de” = “around/about”.

Example

Chega por volta das 12:00, se não houver atrasos.

It arrives around 12:00, if there are no delays.

volta

[VOL-tah]

turn / around (in the expression)

In “por volta de”, “volta” forms an idiom meaning “around/approximately”.

Example

Chega por volta da hora de almoço.

It arrives around lunchtime.

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