Portuguese Phrase
Vou cedo de manhã.
Meaning
Literally ‘I go early in the morning.’ It is used to state that you will leave or do something at an early hour, usually as part of a daily routine or a planned activity.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re talking about your schedule, telling a friend when you’ll leave for work, a meeting, a trip, or any activity that starts early in the day.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Voucedodemanhã
Ir (vou)
‘Vou’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb *ir*, used for simple present actions or future intentions.
Adverb ‘cedo’
‘Cedo’ is an adverb of time meaning ‘early’; it modifies the verb to indicate when the action happens.
Time phrase ‘de manhã’
‘De manhã’ literally means ‘of the morning’ and is the standard way to say ‘in the morning’ in Portuguese.
🗨In Conversation
Vou cedo de manhã.
I’m leaving early in the morning.
Então vai evitar o trânsito pesado.
Then you’ll avoid the heavy traffic.
✕Common Mistakes
Vou cedo de noite.
‘de noite’ means ‘at night’; use ‘cedo’ with a morning time phrase, not night.
Vou cedo na manhã.
The correct preposition is ‘de’, not ‘na’, when naming a time of day.
Vou cedo manhã.
You need the preposition ‘de’ to link the time phrase.
↔Alternatives
Saio cedo de manhã.
I leave early in the morning.
Parto cedo pela manhã.
I depart early in the morning.
Levanto-me cedo de manhã.
I get up early in the morning.
Cultural Tip
In many Brazilian cities the rush hour starts around 7 am, so saying you’ll go ‘cedo de manhã’ often implies you’re trying to beat the traffic. Note that ‘de manhã’ is the neutral form; in some regions people say ‘pela manhã’ for a slightly more formal tone.