Portuguese Phrase
Tem prova hoje?
Meaning
A short, informal way to ask whether there is a test scheduled for the current day. It can be used by students, teachers, or anyone involved in a learning environment.
When to use
Use this phrase in classrooms, study groups, or when you’re checking a schedule. It’s casual but perfectly acceptable in both spoken and written Portuguese.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temprovahoje?
Ter (3ª pessoa singular)
‘Tem’ is the present‑tense form of the verb ‘ter’ (to have) used for he/she/it or formal you.
Prova (noun)
‘Prova’ means ‘test, exam, quiz’. It is a feminine noun, so articles and adjectives would agree in gender.
Hoje (adverb)
‘Hoje’ means ‘today’ and is placed after the noun it modifies.
Question mark without inversion
In Portuguese, many yes/no questions are formed by keeping the statement order and just adding a rising intonation (or a question mark).
🗨In Conversation
Tem prova hoje?
Is there a test today?
Sim, a prova de matemática começa às 14h.
Yes, the math test starts at 2 p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
É prova hoje?
‘Ser’ is used for identity or definition, not for existence. Use ‘tem’ or ‘há’ instead.
Tem provas hoje?
If you mean a single test, keep ‘prova’ singular. Use the plural only when you’re sure there are multiple exams.
Tem prova hoje
In written Portuguese a question mark is required to signal a question.
↔Alternatives
Há prova hoje?
Is there a test today?
Temos prova hoje?
Do we have a test today?
Vai ter prova hoje?
Will there be a test today?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the word ‘prova’ can refer to any kind of assessment – a written exam, a practical test, or even a pop‑quiz. It’s common to ask about it the night before or the morning of the class. Remember that ‘prova’ is feminine, so you’ll hear ‘a prova’ and adjectives like ‘difícil’ (hard) agreeing with it.