Portuguese Phrase
A que horas?
Meaning
Literally “At what hours?”, this phrase is used to ask the exact time an event will happen, e.g., a meeting, a class, or a flight. It does not ask for the current clock time, but for the scheduled hour of something.
When to use
Use it when you need to know the scheduled time of an activity, appointment, or any future event. It is common in both casual conversation and more formal settings such as work or school.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aquehoras?
A (preposition)
In time expressions, the preposition "a" means "at" and introduces the question about a specific moment.
que (interrogative)
"que" works as the interrogative word "what" when asking about time.
horas (noun, plural)
"horas" is the plural of "hora" (hour). In questions about scheduled events we use the plural form.
Word order
Portuguese keeps the preposition‑verb‑object order; there is no inversion as in English.
🗨In Conversation
A que horas começa a reunião?
At what time does the meeting start?
Começa às três da tarde.
It starts at three in the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
Que horas?
Missing the preposition "a" changes the meaning; "Que horas?" asks for the current time, not the scheduled time of an event.
A que horas é?
The verb "ser" is not used for scheduled times; use "começa", "é", "fica" etc., depending on context.
A que hora?
When referring to an event, Portuguese prefers the plural "horas"; the singular is used only for the current time.
↔Alternatives
Que horas são?
What time is it?
Qual é a hora?
What is the hour?
A que horário?
At what schedule/time?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "Que horas são?" is the go‑to question for the current time, while "A que horas?" is reserved for asking about the time of a specific event. When you answer, you usually use the contraction "às" (a + as) before a feminine hour, e.g., "às oito" (at eight). In Portugal, people may also say "A que horas é?" but it sounds less natural than the simple "A que horas?".