Portuguese Phrase
Que horas começa o show?
Meaning
Literally “What time does the show start?” It is the most common way to ask the starting time of a concert, theater performance, or any live event in Brazil.
When to use
Use this question right before a concert, theater play, TV program, or any scheduled performance when you need to know the exact starting hour. It works in both formal and informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quehorascomeçaoshow
Que (interrogative)
Used to ask for specific information; here it means “what” or “at what”.
horas (plural noun)
The plural of “hora”; when asking for a time you always use the plural form.
começa (3rd‑person singular present of começar)
The verb “to start”. In questions the verb stays in the indicative present.
o (definite article)
Matches the masculine singular noun “show”.
show (borrowed noun)
A loanword from English, pronounced with a Portuguese “sh” sound.
🗨In Conversation
Que horas começa o show?
What time does the show start?
Começa às oito e meia da noite.
It starts at eight thirty at night.
✕Common Mistakes
Que hora começa o show?
“Hora” is singular; the correct interrogative for asking a specific time uses the plural “horas”.
Que horas inicia o show?
While “iniciar” is correct, the more natural verb in everyday speech is “começar”.
Quando começa o show?
“Quando” asks “when” in a broader sense (date, day), not the exact hour.
↔Alternatives
A que horas começa o espetáculo?
At what time does the performance start?
Quando começa o show?
When does the show start?
Qual é o horário de início do show?
What is the start time of the show?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil many events start a few minutes later than the printed schedule – the concept of “horário de Brasília” is relaxed. If you’re meeting friends for a concert, it’s polite to arrive a bit earlier, but don’t be surprised if the show actually begins 10‑15 minutes after the announced time.