Portuguese Phrase
São sete menos quinze.
Meaning
This phrase is a standard way to tell time in Portuguese by subtracting minutes from the next hour. It literally translates to 'They are seven minus fifteen,' indicating the time is 6:45.
When to use
Use this phrase in both casual and formal settings when someone asks for the time and it is fifteen minutes before seven o'clock. It is a very common alternative to saying the digital time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sãosetemenosquinze
São
The plural form of 'ser' (to be), used here because the hour 'seven' is plural.
Menos
Used in time-telling to indicate 'to' or 'until' by subtracting minutes from the hour.
🗨In Conversation
Você sabe que horas são?
Do you know what time it is?
São sete menos quinze.
It is a quarter to seven.
✕Common Mistakes
É sete menos quinze.
In Portuguese, hours from 2 to 12 require the plural verb 'são' rather than the singular 'é'.
São sete menos quarto.
While 'quarto' (quarter) is used in European Portuguese, 'quinze' (fifteen) is the standard number used in this subtraction construction in Brazil.
↔Alternatives
São seis e quarenta e cinco.
It is six forty-five.
Faltam quinze para as sete.
It's fifteen until seven.
Cultural Tip
In many Portuguese-speaking regions, especially Brazil, telling time by subtracting minutes (menos) is considered slightly more sophisticated than just reading the numbers. Note that for 12:45, you would say 'É uma menos quinze' because 'one' is singular.