Portuguese Phrase
A que horas a gente se encontra?
Meaning
This phrase is the standard informal way to ask for a meeting time in Brazilian Portuguese. It uses the colloquial 'a gente' instead of 'nós' to mean 'we', and the reflexive verb 'se encontrar' to describe the act of meeting up.
When to use
Use this when you have already agreed to see someone and need to settle on a specific time. It is perfect for social plans with friends, family, or casual colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
A que horasa gentese encontra
A que horas
The preposition 'a' (at) is used here to ask for a specific point in time.
A gente
This phrase functions as 'we' but always requires the verb to be in the third-person singular form.
Se encontra
This is the reflexive form of 'encontrar', used when two or more people are meeting each other.
🗨In Conversation
Vamos ao cinema hoje?
Are we going to the movies today?
Sim! A que horas a gente se encontra?
Yes! What time are we meeting?
✕Common Mistakes
Que horas a gente se encontra?
In formal or complete speech, the preposition 'A' is required to mean 'At what time'.
A que horas nós se encontra?
'A gente' takes the third-person singular, but 'nós' requires the first-person plural 'nos encontramos'.
↔Alternatives
Que horas nos encontramos?
What time do we meet?
A que horas vai ser?
What time is it going to be?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, using 'a gente' is much more common than 'nós' in spoken language. Also, keep in mind that social meeting times can be somewhat flexible in Brazilian culture, often implying a 15-minute grace period.