Portuguese Phrase
Quer jantar hoje à noite?
Meaning
A polite way to ask someone if they would like to have dinner together tonight. It functions both as an invitation and a check of the other person's availability.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to invite a friend, family member, or colleague to eat dinner later in the evening. It works in informal settings and in semi‑formal contexts when you already have a friendly rapport.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Querjantarhojeànoite?
Quer (querer)
Second‑person singular present of "querer". In Brazil it is used with "você" (formal you) and in Portugal with "tu" (informal you).
jantar (infinitive)
Infinitive verb meaning “to have dinner”. After "quer" the infinitive follows directly.
hoje
Adverb meaning “today”. In the expression "hoje à noite" it points to the evening of the same day.
à (a + a)
Contraction of the preposition "a" + the feminine definite article "a". Required before feminine nouns like "noite".
noite
Noun meaning “night”. Combined with "à" it forms the time expression "à noite" (in the evening).
🗨In Conversation
Quer jantar hoje à noite?
Do you want to have dinner tonight?
Sim, adoraria! Onde vamos?
Yes, I’d love to! Where are we going?
✕Common Mistakes
Queres jantar hoje à noite?
In Brazilian Portuguese "queres" (second‑person singular of "querer") is not used; use "quer" with "você".
Quer jantar hoje a noite?
The accent on "à" is essential; omitting it changes the meaning.
Quer jantar hoje à noite?
"Hoje à noite" is correct, but many learners say "hoje à noite" when they actually mean "esta noite"; both are acceptable but "esta noite" is more precise.
↔Alternatives
Você quer jantar hoje à noite?
Do you want to have dinner tonight?
Vamos jantar hoje à noite?
Shall we have dinner tonight?
Topa jantar hoje à noite?
Do you feel like having dinner tonight?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil dinner (jantar) is usually served later, around 8 – 9 pm, while in Portugal it can be earlier, around 7 pm. "À noite" simply means "in the evening"; if you want to stress that it’s the same night, you can also say "esta noite". When inviting someone you can add a friendly "topa" or "que tal" for a more casual tone.