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Portuguese Phrase

Começo meu turno cedo.

/koˈme.su ˈme.u ˈtuɾ.nu ˈse.du/
Meaning"I start my shift early."
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Meaning

I start my shift early. The sentence tells a listener that the speaker’s workday begins at an early hour, often implying a routine or a specific schedule for that day.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you’re talking about your work routine, explaining why you might be unavailable later, or comparing different shift times. It works in both casual conversation with colleagues and in a slightly more formal context, such as a meeting with a supervisor.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Começomeuturnocedo

1

Começo (verbo começar)

‘Começo’ is the 1st‑person singular present indicative of ‘começar’ (to start). Use it for habitual or current actions.

2

meu (adjetivo possessivo)

‘meu’ agrees in gender (masculine) and number (singular) with the noun it modifies – here ‘turno’.

3

turno (substantivo)

‘turno’ refers to a work shift or a period of duty; it is masculine, so it takes ‘o’ at the end.

4

cedo (advérbio de tempo)

‘cedo’ means ‘early’ and usually follows the verb phrase in Portuguese.

🗨In Conversation

A

Começo meu turno cedo.

I start my shift early.

Então tem tempo para um café antes do trabalho?

So you have time for a coffee before work?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Eu começo meu turno cedo.

    The subject pronoun ‘eu’ is optional in Portuguese; including it isn’t wrong but can sound redundant in everyday speech.

  • Cedo meu turno começo.

    Adverbs like ‘cedo’ normally follow the verb phrase; placing it before the noun sounds unnatural.

  • Começo minha turno cedo.

    ‘Turno’ is masculine, so the correct possessive is ‘meu’, not ‘minha’.

↔Alternatives

  • Eu inicio meu turno cedo.

    I begin my shift early.

  • Começo a trabalhar cedo.

    I start working early.

  • Meu turno começa cedo.

    My shift starts early.

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Cultural Tip

In Brazil many jobs operate on shift schedules (turnos) – manhã (morning), tarde (afternoon) and noite (night). Saying you ‘começo meu turno cedo’ can also hint that you have a longer commute or that you prefer a quieter start. In informal speech, Brazilians often omit the subject pronoun, so ‘Começo meu turno cedo’ sounds natural, whereas adding ‘Eu’ is perfectly correct but slightly more emphatic.