Portuguese Phrase
Que horas começa?
Meaning
A direct way to ask for the starting time of an event, class, movie, meeting, or any activity. It literally translates to “What time does it start?” and is understood in both Brazil and Portugal.
When to use
Use this question when you need the exact hour an activity begins. It works in informal conversation, in classrooms, at work, or when making plans with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quehorascomeça
Que (interrogative)
Used to ask 'what' or 'which' in questions; here it introduces a time‑related query.
horas (noun, plural)
Literally 'hours'; when asking about a specific moment we keep it plural (e.g., 'que horas').
começa (verbo começar, 3ª pessoa singular, presente)
Means 'starts' or 'begins'; conjugated for a third‑person singular subject that is understood from context.
🗨In Conversation
Que horas começa o filme?
What time does the movie start?
Começa às oito horas.
It starts at eight o’clock.
✕Common Mistakes
Que hora começa?
Use the plural "horas" because the question refers to a point in time, not a single hour.
Que horas é?
"Que horas é?" is a literal translation of the English "What time is it?" but in Portuguese the correct form is "Que horas são?"
Que horas começa o filme?
In Brazil, adding the preposition "a" ("A que horas…") sounds more natural; without it the sentence is still understood but may feel slightly abrupt.
↔Alternatives
A que horas começa?
At what time does it start?
Quando começa?
When does it start?
Qual é a hora de início?
What is the start time?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil the most common form is "A que horas começa?" – the preposition "a" makes the question sound a bit more natural. In Portugal, "Que horas começa?" is perfectly normal. When you answer, Brazilians often say "Começa às oito" while Portuguese may add "da manhã" or "da tarde" for clarity.