Portuguese Phrase
Quando tenho que pagar?
Meaning
Literally “When do I have to pay?”. It is used to ask about the deadline or the exact day when a payment is expected, such as a bill, rent, tuition, or a purchase.
When to use
Use this question when you need to know the due date of any financial obligation – a utility bill, a rent contract, a school fee, or even a restaurant check. It works in both formal and informal contexts, but you can make it more polite by adding “por favor”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quandotenhoquepagar?
Quando
Interrogative adverb meaning “when”. It starts a question about time.
tenho
First‑person singular present of the verb ter (“to have”). Here it works as an auxiliary meaning “I have to”.
que
Conjunction that introduces an infinitive clause, equivalent to English “to” or “that”.
pagar
Infinitive of the verb “to pay”. The verb stays in the infinitive after que.
🗨In Conversation
Quando tenho que pagar?
When do I have to pay?
O pagamento vence no dia 15 deste mês.
The payment is due on the 15th of this month.
✕Common Mistakes
Quando tenho de pagar?
“Tenho de” is correct but sounds more formal; beginners often mix it with “tenho que” and forget the infinitive after “que”.
Quando tenho que pago?
“Pago” is the present‑indicative form meaning “I pay”. After “que” you need the infinitive “pagar”.
Quando eu tenho que pagar?
Adding the subject pronoun “eu” is unnecessary in Portuguese and can sound overly emphatic.
↔Alternatives
Qual é a data de pagamento?
What is the payment date?
Quando devo pagar?
When should I pay?
Qual o prazo para pagar?
What is the deadline to pay?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil many contracts follow the “dia útil” rule – if the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is usually moved to the next business day. When speaking with a service provider, it’s polite to say “por favor” and to confirm the exact day, especially if you’re dealing with a boleto (bank slip). In more formal settings you might replace “tenho que” with “devo”.