Portuguese Phrase
O contrato dura doze meses.
Meaning
The sentence states the length of time a contract is valid: it lasts twelve months. It is a straightforward way to describe a fixed‑term agreement.
When to use
Use this phrase in business meetings, legal discussions, or any situation where you need to specify the duration of a contract, lease, subscription, or similar agreement.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ocontratoduradozemeses
Definite article (O)
The article 'o' agrees in gender (masculine) and number (singular) with the noun 'contrato'.
Verb durar (dura)
‘durar’ means ‘to last’. In the third‑person singular present it becomes ‘dura’.
Cardinal number (doze)
‘doze’ is the cardinal number twelve; it does not change for gender or number.
Plural noun (meses)
‘meses’ is the plural of ‘mês’; it follows the number and keeps the regular plural –es ending.
🗨In Conversation
Qual é a duração do contrato?
What is the duration of the contract?
O contrato dura doze meses.
The contract lasts twelve months.
✕Common Mistakes
O contrato tem doze meses.
‘tem’ (has) alone does not convey the idea of duration; you need a verb like ‘dura’ or a noun phrase such as ‘tem vigência de’.
O contrato dura doze mês.
After a number greater than one, the noun must be plural.
O contrato dura doze meseses.
Do not add an extra plural ending; ‘meses’ is already plural.
↔Alternatives
O contrato tem vigência de doze meses.
The contract has a term of twelve months.
O contrato tem duração de um ano.
The contract has a duration of one year.
A validade do contrato é de doze meses.
The validity of the contract is twelve months.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, contracts usually state the period in months rather than years, especially for short‑term agreements. Using ‘dura’ is neutral and appropriate for both formal written documents and spoken business Portuguese. Avoid overly casual phrasing in legal contexts.