Portuguese Phrase
Tenho que ir agora.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘I have to go now.’ It conveys a sense of urgency or a scheduled departure that cannot be delayed.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to leave a conversation, a meeting, or any situation immediately. It works in both formal and informal contexts, though in very casual speech you might drop ‘que’ and say ‘Tenho que ir já.’
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenhoqueiragora
Verbo ter + que + infinitivo
‘Ter que’ expresses obligation; it is followed by an infinitive verb, similar to ‘have to’ in English.
Presente do indicativo – ter
‘Tenho’ is the first‑person singular present form of ‘ter’, used for statements about the present.
Advérbio de tempo – agora
‘Agora’ means ‘now’ and is placed after the verb phrase to indicate immediacy.
🗨In Conversation
Você pode ficar mais um pouco?
Can you stay a little longer?
Desculpa, tenho que ir agora.
Sorry, I have to go now.
✕Common Mistakes
Sou que ir agora.
Do not use ‘ser’ for obligation; ‘ser que ir’ is incorrect.
Tenho que agora.
Avoid omitting the infinitive ‘ir’; ‘Tenho que agora’ loses the verb and is ungrammatical.
Agora tenho que ir.
Do not place ‘agora’ before the verb phrase; it should follow the infinitive.
↔Alternatives
Preciso ir agora.
I need to go now.
Tenho de ir agora.
I must go now.
Vou ter que sair agora.
I'm going to have to leave now.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it’s polite to give a brief reason when you say you have to leave, especially in professional settings. Adding ‘Desculpe’ or ‘Com licença’ before ‘Tenho que ir agora’ softens the abruptness. In Portugal, the construction ‘Tenho de ir agora’ is more common than ‘Tenho que ir agora.’