Portuguese Phrase
Quando a gente tem recreio?
Meaning
A casual way to ask the class or a friend about the time the school recess is scheduled. It literally means “When do we have recess?” and is typical of everyday student conversation.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings – among classmates, friends, or younger siblings – when you want to know the exact moment the break starts. It’s not appropriate for formal written Portuguese.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quandoagentetemrecreio?
Quando (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask about time; placed at the beginning of a question.
a gente (informal 'we')
A colloquial first‑person plural pronoun that always takes third‑person singular verb forms.
tem (present of ter)
Third‑person singular of ‘ter’; with ‘a gente’ it means ‘we have’.
recreio (noun)
The school break or recess, usually a short period for snack and play.
🗨In Conversation
Quando a gente tem recreio?
When do we have recess?
Hoje tem às 10h30.
Today it’s at 10:30.
✕Common Mistakes
Quando a gente temos recreio?
With ‘a gente’ you must keep the verb in third‑person singular; ‘temos’ is first‑person plural and sounds unnatural.
Quando a gente tem intervalo?
‘Intervalo’ is used for longer breaks (e.g., between semesters). For the short school break, ‘recreio’ is the natural word.
↔Alternatives
Quando vamos ter recreio?
When are we going to have recess?
Qual é o horário do recreio?
What is the recess time?
Quando é a pausa?
When is the break?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘recreio’ is a short, usually 15‑20 minute, break between classes where students can eat a snack, chat, and play. The expression is very informal; native speakers often use ‘a gente’ instead of ‘nós’ in everyday speech. If you’re speaking to a teacher, you might say ‘Qual é o horário do recreio, por favor?’ to sound a bit more polite.