Portuguese Phrase
De tarde eu leio livros.
Meaning
Literally “In the afternoon I read books.” It expresses a habitual activity that takes place during the afternoon hours.
When to use
Use this sentence when describing your daily routine or talking about what you usually do after lunch. It’s perfect for small‑talk about hobbies or study habits.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Detardeeuleiolivros
De + time of day
Use the preposition “de” followed by a time-of‑day word (manhã, tarde, noite) to mean “in the …”.
Subject pronoun (eu)
Portuguese often drops the subject pronoun, but “eu” can be kept for emphasis or contrast.
Present indicative – ler
“leio” is the first‑person singular present of the verb “ler” (to read).
Plural direct object
“livros” is the plural of “livro” and functions as the direct object of “leio”.
🗨In Conversation
O que você costuma fazer de tarde?
What do you usually do in the afternoon?
De tarde eu leio livros.
In the afternoon I read books.
✕Common Mistakes
De noite eu leio livros.
“de noite” means “at night”, not “in the afternoon”.
De tarde eu leio livro.
If you want to talk about reading multiple books, use the plural “livros”.
Eu leio livros de tarde.
The time expression normally comes before the verb; placing it after sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
À tarde leio livros.
In the afternoon I read books.
Durante a tarde, eu costumo ler livros.
During the afternoon, I usually read books.
Eu leio livros à tarde.
I read books in the afternoon.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, many people enjoy a quiet reading session after the post‑lunch break (the “siesta” hour). Both “de tarde” and “à tarde” are correct; “de tarde” sounds a bit more colloquial, while “à tarde” is slightly more formal. Remember to keep the verb in the present indicative when you’re talking about regular habits.