Portuguese Phrase
A gente prefere às 7 da noite.
Meaning
Literally, “We prefer at 7 in the evening.” The sentence is used to state a collective preference for a specific time, usually when arranging a meeting, a dinner, or any activity that starts at night.
When to use
Use this phrase when you and a group are deciding on a time for an event, such as a dinner, a movie, or a class. It’s informal and works well in everyday conversation with friends or family.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Agenteprefereàs7danoite
A gente
Colloquial way to say “we” in Brazil; it takes third‑person singular verb agreement.
prefere
Present indicative of the verb preferir, conjugated for third‑person singular (matches “a gente”).
às
Contraction of the preposition a + the feminine singular article as; used before clock times.
da
Contraction of de + a; links the hour to the part of the day (noite).
7 (sete)
When spoken, the numeral is usually said as the word “sete”.
🗨In Conversation
A gente prefere às 7 da noite.
We prefer at 7 p.m.
Tudo bem, então nos encontramos às 7.
Alright, then we’ll meet at 7.
✕Common Mistakes
A gente prefere a 7 da noite.
The preposition must contract with the article: use “às” (a + as).
A gente nos prefere às 7 da noite.
“A gente” takes third‑person singular, not first‑person plural.
A gente prefere às 7 da noite (pronounced “às sete”).
When the hour is written as a numeral, keep it as “7”; when spoken, you can say “sete”. Mixing the two is acceptable but avoid “às 7 da noite” pronounced as “às sete”.
↔Alternatives
Nós preferimos às 7 da noite.
We prefer at 7 p.m.
Prefiro às 7 da noite.
I prefer at 7 p.m.
A gente prefere às sete da noite.
We prefer at seven in the evening.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, “a gente” is the go‑to informal pronoun for “we” and is far more common in spoken Portuguese than the formal “nós”. Remember to keep the verb in third‑person singular. When talking about exact times, always use the preposition “a” (or its contraction “às”) – e.g., “às 7 da manhã”, “às 3 da tarde”.