Portuguese Phrase
Pra que horas?
Meaning
This phrase is a common, informal way to ask about the scheduled time for an event, appointment, or meeting. It is a contraction of 'Para que horas' and is used to clarify when something has been or should be set.
When to use
Use this when you are confirming the time for a social gathering, a doctor's appointment, or a movie. It is most appropriate in casual or semi-formal spoken contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Praquehoras
Pra
A colloquial contraction of the preposition 'para', used to indicate a destination or a specific point in time.
Que horas
The standard construction for asking 'what time' in Portuguese, which consistently uses the plural 'horas'.
🗨In Conversation
Marquei o nosso jantar para amanhã.
I scheduled our dinner for tomorrow.
Ótimo! Pra que horas?
Great! For what time?
✕Common Mistakes
Para que hora?
In Portuguese, when asking about the time of an event, 'horas' must stay in the plural form.
Por que horas?
The preposition 'por' indicates duration or cause; use 'pra' (para) to indicate a specific target time.
↔Alternatives
A que horas?
At what time?
Qual é o horário?
What is the schedule?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the word 'para' is almost always shortened to 'pra' in spoken conversation. Using the full 'para' in a casual setting can sound slightly stiff or overly formal, so 'pra' is your best bet for sounding like a local.