Portuguese Phrase
Que horas é a feira da escola?
Meaning
This phrase literally translates to "What hours is the fair of the school?" and is the standard way to ask about the time of an event in Portuguese. It's a direct and common question used to inquire about the schedule of a specific occurrence.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know the starting time or the scheduled duration of an event, particularly a school fair. It's suitable for informal and semi-formal contexts, such as asking a friend, a teacher, or a school administrator.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Que horaséa feirada escola
Que horas
This is the standard interrogative phrase for asking 'what time' in Portuguese. Note that 'horas' (hours) is always plural here, even if you expect a single time.
É (verb 'ser')
'É' is the third-person singular form of the verb 'ser' (to be). It's used for permanent characteristics, definitions, and scheduled events, making it appropriate for asking about the time of a fair.
A feira
'A' is the feminine definite article ('the'), and 'feira' means 'fair' or 'market'. Together, they refer to 'the fair'.
Da escola
'Da' is a contraction of 'de' (of/from) and 'a' (the). So, 'da escola' means 'of the school' or 'school's', indicating possession or association.
🗨In Conversation
Você vai na feira da escola?
Are you going to the school fair?
Sim! Que horas é a feira da escola?
Yes! What time is the school fair?
✕Common Mistakes
Qual hora é a feira da escola?
While 'qual hora' might seem logical, 'que horas' is the correct and idiomatic way to ask 'what time' in Portuguese, always in the plural.
Que horas está a feira da escola?
Use 'ser' (é) for permanent or scheduled events like a fair, not 'estar' (está) which is for temporary states or locations.
↔Alternatives
A que horas começa a feira da escola?
At what time does the school fair start?
Qual é o horário da feira da escola?
What is the schedule/time of the school fair?
Cultural Tip
School fairs (feiras da escola) are common events in Brazil, often featuring student projects, food stalls, games, and cultural presentations. They are usually family-friendly and a good opportunity for community engagement. Asking about the time is a polite and expected way to show interest in attending.