Portuguese Phrase
Tenho uma reunião às duas da tarde.
Meaning
This phrase is used to state a scheduled commitment or appointment at a specific time. It combines the verb 'ter' (to have) with a time expression to indicate a professional or personal obligation.
When to use
Use this phrase in a workplace setting or when discussing your daily schedule with friends and colleagues. It is the standard way to explain why you might be unavailable at a certain time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenhoumareuniãoàs duasda tarde
Tenho (Ter)
The first-person singular of 'ter'. Unlike English which uses 'to be' for some states, Portuguese uses 'ter' for possession and scheduled obligations.
Crase (às)
The 'às' is a contraction of the preposition 'a' and the article 'as'. It is mandatory when indicating specific hours.
🗨In Conversation
Você pode falar agora?
Can you talk now?
Agora não, tenho uma reunião às duas da tarde.
Not now, I have a meeting at two in the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
Tenho uma reunião em duas da tarde.
Use the contracted preposition 'às' for specific clock times, not 'em'.
Tenho uma reunião às dois da tarde.
Hours are feminine in Portuguese because they refer to 'as horas', so use 'duas' instead of 'dois'.
↔Alternatives
Estou em uma reunião às duas.
I am in a meeting at two.
Marquei uma reunião para as duas da tarde.
I scheduled a meeting for two in the afternoon.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese-speaking countries, while the 24-hour clock (14:00) is often used for official schedules and tickets, people almost always use the 12-hour clock (duas da tarde) in casual conversation. Adding 'da tarde' or 'da manhã' clarifies which half of the day you mean.