Portuguese Phrase
Os trens passam a cada cinco a dez minutos.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that trains arrive or go by at regular intervals of five to ten minutes. It emphasizes the frequency rather than a fixed schedule.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are describing the regularity of train service to a traveler, a friend, or a colleague. It is handy in travel guides, at a ticket office, or when planning a trip that depends on train timing.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ostrenspassamacadacincoadezminutos.
Definite article (Os)
Os is the plural masculine definite article, used before plural nouns like trens.
Noun (trens)
Trens is the plural of trem (train). In Portuguese nouns agree in number with articles and verbs.
Verb agreement (passam)
Passam is the third‑person plural present of passar, matching the plural subject os trens.
Expression of frequency (a cada)
A cada literally means “per each” and is used to indicate regular intervals (e.g., a cada cinco minutos = every five minutes).
Number range (cinco a dez)
When giving a range, use the preposition a between the two numbers; the hyphen is optional in writing but spoken as “cinco a dez”.
Plural noun after a number (minutos)
Minutos stays plural because the range includes more than one minute.
🗨In Conversation
Com que frequência os trens passam?
How often do the trains run?
Os trens passam a cada cinco a dez minutos.
The trains run every five to ten minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Os trens passa a cada cinco a dez minutos.
The verb must agree with the plural subject os trens; use passam, not passa.
Os trens passam a cada 5‑10 minuto.
Minuto should be plural because the range includes many minutes.
Nos trens passam a cada cinco a dez minutos.
The correct article is os, not nos, which means “in the trains”.
Os trens passam a cada cinco‑dez minutos.
When spelling out the range, use the preposition a between the numbers, not a hyphen.
↔Alternatives
Os trens chegam a cada cinco a dez minutos.
The trains arrive every five to ten minutes.
Os trens circulam a cada cinco a dez minutos.
The trains circulate every five to ten minutes.
A cada cinco a dez minutos, passa um trem.
Every five to ten minutes, a train passes.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, commuter trains in big metropolitan areas (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro) often run at this frequency during peak hours, but the interval can be longer late at night. When speaking, Brazilians usually say “cinco a dez minutos” rather than “5‑10 minutos”. Also, avoid the literal English‑style “every 5‑10 minutes”; the natural Portuguese construction is “a cada cinco a dez minutos”.