Portuguese Phrase
Já são quase dez da noite.
Meaning
It translates to “It’s already almost ten at night.” The speaker is noting that the evening is progressing quickly and the clock is nearing ten o’clock.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to comment on the late hour, often to express surprise, urgency, or to suggest that it’s time to wrap up an activity.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jásãoquasedezdanoite
Já
Adverb meaning 'already' or 'now', used to indicate that something has happened earlier than expected.
são
Third‑person plural of the verb *ser*; in Portuguese, *ser* is used to tell the time (e.g., *são duas*).
quase
Adverb meaning 'almost' or 'nearly', placed before the number.
dez
Cardinal number 'ten'. When telling time, numbers are spoken as they are.
da
Contraction of *de* + *a* meaning 'of the', linking the hour to the period of the day.
noite
Noun meaning 'night', used for times from roughly 6 p.m. onward.
🗨In Conversation
Já são quase dez da noite, vamos fechar a loja.
It's already almost ten at night, let's close the shop.
Ainda temos tempo para mais um cliente?
Do we still have time for one more customer?
✕Common Mistakes
Já está quase dez da noite.
When telling time, Portuguese uses *ser* (são) not *estar* (está).
Já são quase dez de noite.
The correct preposition is the contraction *da* (de + a).
↔Alternatives
Já está quase dez da noite.
It's already almost ten at night.
Já são quase dez horas da noite.
It's already almost ten o’clock at night.
Quase dez da noite já.
Almost ten at night already.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the day is split into *da manhã* (morning), *da tarde* (afternoon) and *da noite* (evening/night). When telling time after 6 p.m., you always add *da noite*. Using *já* adds a sense of “time has flown” and is common in informal conversation when people are about to finish work, a party, or a TV program.