Portuguese Phrase
Quando é o feriado?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the date of a specific public holiday. It is a straightforward way to request the calendar day on which a holiday will be observed, whether you are planning a trip, a celebration, or just need to know when you’ll have a day off.
When to use
Use this question when you need to know the exact day of a holiday that is coming up, such as Carnaval, Independence Day, or a regional festivity. It works in both formal settings (talking to a teacher or a coworker) and informal chats with friends or family.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quandoéoferiado?
Quando (interrogative adverb)
Used to ask about time or date. It does not change form; it simply precedes the verb.
é (ser, 3rd‑person singular)
The verb ser is used for permanent or defining characteristics, including dates and holidays.
o (definite article)
The masculine singular article that agrees with the noun feriado.
feriado (noun)
Means ‘holiday’ or ‘public holiday’; it is a masculine noun, so it takes the article o.
🗨In Conversation
Quando é o feriado?
When is the holiday?
É no dia 7 de setembro.
It’s on September 7th.
✕Common Mistakes
Qual é o feriado?
‘Qual’ asks for the name of the holiday, not the date. Use ‘quando’ for time.
Quando é feriado?
The article ‘o’ is required before ‘feriado’ because it’s a specific holiday.
Quando será o feriado?
‘Será’ (future) is acceptable but sounds more formal; beginners often over‑use it when a simple present ‘é’ is enough.
↔Alternatives
Qual é a data do feriado?
What is the date of the holiday?
Quando será o feriado?
When will the holiday be?
Em que dia é o feriado?
On which day is the holiday?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘feriado’ refers to a nationally recognized public holiday, but each state and city also has its own ‘feriados municipais’ (local holidays). When asking a stranger, it’s polite to use the full form ‘Quando é o feriado?’; in very casual speech you might hear ‘Que dia é feriado?’. Remember that many holidays are tied to religious traditions, so the exact date can change each year (e.g., Carnaval, Semana Santa).