Portuguese Phrase
Faltam vinte e cinco para a uma.
Meaning
The sentence tells that there are twenty‑five minutes left until the clock strikes one o’clock. It is a common way to express the amount of time remaining before a specific hour.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inform someone how many minutes are left before 1:00 am/pm – for example, in a meeting, before a class starts, or while waiting for a bus.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Faltamvinteecincoparaauma
Faltar (verb)
When used with a plural subject, 'faltar' means 'to be left' or 'to be missing', e.g., 'Faltam dez minutos' = 'There are ten minutes left'.
Numbers 20‑29
Numbers from 21 to 29 are formed as 'vinte e X' (twenty and X). The conjunction 'e' is mandatory.
Para + hour
The preposition 'para' indicates the point in time that is being approached, similar to English 'to' in 'twenty‑five to one'.
Article before hour
Hours are feminine in Portuguese, so we use the article 'a' before 'uma' (one o’clock).
🗨In Conversation
Que horas são?
What time is it?
Faltam vinte e cinco para a uma.
It's twenty‑five minutes to one.
✕Common Mistakes
Falta vinte e cinco para a uma.
The verb must agree with the plural subject (minutes), so use 'faltam' not 'falta'.
Faltam vinte e cinco para o uma.
Hours are feminine; the correct article is 'a' not 'o'.
Faltam vinte e cinco para um.
When referring to the hour 1, use 'uma' (feminine) because 'hora' is feminine.
Faltam vinte e cinco minutos para uma.
You need the article before the hour: 'para a uma'.
↔Alternatives
São vinte e cinco para a uma.
It's twenty‑five to one.
Faltam 25 minutos para a uma.
There are 25 minutes left until one.
Ainda faltam vinte e cinco minutos para a uma.
There are still twenty‑five minutes left until one.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the construction 'faltam X para Y' is the most natural way to say 'X minutes to Y'. In Portugal you may also hear 'faltam X minutos para as Y' (note the plural article 'as' before the hour). Remember that the hour is always feminine, so you say 'a uma' and never 'o um'.