Portuguese Phrase
Que horas começa a escola?
Meaning
This question asks for the exact time that school begins. It is a direct way to inquire about the daily schedule of a specific school, whether you are a parent, a new student, or just curious.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to know the start time of a school day – for example, when arranging transportation, planning a visit, or confirming your child's routine.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quehorascomeçaaescola?
Que horas
The phrase "Que horas" is used to ask "what time" and always takes a verb in third‑person singular, even though "horas" is plural.
começa (verbo começar)
Third‑person singular present of "começar"; it must agree with the singular subject "a escola".
a escola (subject)
The definite article "a" marks "escola" as a specific school; the verb follows the subject‑verb agreement rule.
Question mark placement
In Portuguese both opening (¿) and closing (?) punctuation are used; only the closing "?" is required in informal writing.
🗨In Conversation
Que horas começa a escola?
What time does school start?
Começa às oito horas da manhã.
It starts at eight o’clock in the morning.
✕Common Mistakes
Que hora começa a escola?
"Que hora" is singular and is used for asking the current time, not a schedule.
Que horas começam a escola?
The verb must agree with the singular subject "escola"; "começam" is plural.
While correct, some learners drop the article "a" and say "Que horas começa a escola?"; both are acceptable, but "A que horas…" sounds more natural in most regions.
↔Alternatives
A que horas começa a escola?
At what time does school start?
Qual é o horário de início da escola?
What is the school's start time?
Quando a escola começa?
When does school start?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil most primary schools open between 7:00 am and 8:00 am, while many secondary schools start a bit later, around 8:00 am‑9:00 am. If you ask a teacher or administrator, using the more formal "A que horas…" is preferred in professional settings.