Portuguese Phrase
O embarque começa às 10h30.
Meaning
The sentence tells you that the boarding process for a flight, train, or bus will begin at ten‑thirty in the morning. It is a straightforward announcement of a scheduled start time.
When to use
Use this phrase at airports, train stations, or bus terminals when informing passengers about the exact moment boarding will start. It can also appear on tickets, screens, or announcements.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oembarquecomeçaàs10h30
Definite article O
Used before masculine singular nouns; here it introduces the noun 'embarque' (boarding).
Verb começa
Third‑person singular present of 'começar' (to start); agrees with the singular noun 'embarque'.
Contraction às
Combines the preposition 'a' (at) with the feminine plural article 'as' (as horas); required before specific clock times.
Time expression 10h30
In Portuguese the 24‑hour clock is written with an 'h' between hour and minutes (e.g., 10h30).
🗨In Conversation
A que horas começa o embarque?
What time does boarding start?
O embarque começa às 10h30.
Boarding starts at 10:30.
✕Common Mistakes
O embarque começa a 10h30.
The preposition 'a' must contract with the article to form 'às' when indicating a specific time.
O embarque começa às 10:30.
In Portuguese the hour‑minute separator is an 'h', not a colon, especially in formal writing.
O embarque começa as 10h30.
Missing the accent on 'às' changes the meaning; 'as' would be the plural article alone.
↔Alternatives
O embarque inicia às 10h30.
Boarding begins at 10:30.
A partida começa às 10h30.
The departure starts at 10:30.
O check‑in começa às 10h30.
Check‑in starts at 10:30.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, travel announcements almost always use the 24‑hour clock and the preposition‑article contraction 'às' before a time. In informal speech Brazilians may say 'dez e trinta' or simply 'dez e meia' for 10:30, but the written form stays '10h30'. Remember that 'embarque' refers specifically to the act of getting on a vehicle, not to the whole journey.