Portuguese Phrase
Asse por 10-12 minutos.
Meaning
This instruction tells you to place the food in the oven and bake it for a period of ten to twelve minutes. The range gives a little flexibility depending on the oven’s heat and the size of the item.
When to use
Use this phrase in written or spoken recipes, cooking classes, or when a friend asks how long to bake something. It’s a typical kitchen command found in Brazilian and European Portuguese cooking texts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Assepor10-12minutos.
Imperative mood (Asse)
‘Asse’ is the formal (tu/você) imperative of the verb ‘assar’ (to bake). It gives a direct command or instruction.
Preposition ‘por’ for duration
In Portuguese, ‘por’ is used to indicate how long an action lasts, similar to English ‘for’.
Numerical range
When giving a range of minutes, you can say ‘10‑12 minutos’ or the spoken form ‘dez a doze minutos’. The hyphen is common in written recipes.
Noun agreement
‘Minutos’ is masculine plural and matches the number that precedes it; no article is needed in this construction.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto tempo devo deixar no forno?
How long should I leave it in the oven?
Asse por 10-12 minutos.
Bake for 10‑12 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Assa por 10-12 minutos.
‘Assa’ is the present indicative (he/she bakes) – the correct command form is ‘Asse’.
Asse 10-12 minutos.
Learners often omit the preposition; you need ‘por’ (or ‘durante’) to indicate duration.
Asse por 10-12 minutos.
In spoken Portuguese the range is usually expressed with ‘a’ (dez a doze minutos). Using the hyphen is fine in writing but can sound unnatural when spoken.
↔Alternatives
Cozinhe por 10 a 12 minutos.
Cook for 10 to 12 minutes.
Leve ao forno por 10 a 12 minutos.
Put it in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes.
Asse durante 10‑12 minutos.
Bake for 10‑12 minutes.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, the verb ‘assar’ is used for anything cooked in an oven, while ‘cozinhar’ is more general. When giving a time range, native speakers often say ‘dez a doze minutos’ rather than writing the digits. Also, ovens in Brazil can vary widely in temperature, so a short range like 10‑12 minutes is common to accommodate those differences.