Portuguese Phrase
A que horas começa a escola hoje?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for the exact time that school will begin on the current day. It’s a straightforward, polite way to request schedule information.
When to use
Use this question when you need to coordinate transportation, plan a morning routine, or simply confirm the day’s timetable with classmates, teachers, or school staff.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aquehorascomeçaaescolahoje?
A que horas
Fixed interrogative phrase meaning “at what time”. It always appears at the start of a time‑question.
começa (verbo começar)
Third‑person singular present of “começar”. Use the accent on the first ‘a’ to keep the correct stress.
a escola
Definite article + noun; the subject of the verb. In Portuguese the article is required before most singular nouns.
hoje
Adverb of time meaning “today”. It usually comes at the end of the sentence for emphasis.
🗨In Conversation
A que horas começa a escola hoje?
What time does school start today?
Começa às oito e quinze da manhã.
It starts at eight fifteen in the morning.
✕Common Mistakes
Que horas começa a escola hoje?
Missing the preposition “A” makes the question sound incomplete; the standard form is “A que horas…”.
Começa a escola hoje?
This asks if school starts today, not at what time. Use the full time‑question structure to ask for the hour.
A que horas começa a escola hoje
In written Portuguese, a question mark is required at the end of a direct question.
↔Alternatives
Que horas a escola começa hoje?
What time does the school start today?
A que hora a escola começa hoje?
At what hour does school start today?
A que horário a escola inicia hoje?
At what schedule does school begin today?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, public schools often start between 7:00 am and 8:00 am, while many private institutions may begin a bit later. When speaking to a teacher, keep the tone polite and use the full phrase “A que horas…”. In informal chats with friends, you’ll hear the shorter “Que horas começa a escola?”. Regional accents can affect pronunciation, especially the vowel in “horas” (often more open in the South).