São três e meia da tarde
It is three thirty in the afternoon
Language note: Literally 'It's three and a half in the afternoon'.
Culture note: Afternoon coffee breaks, 'lanche', often occur around this time.
Context: Maria suggests meeting up again at three thirty in the afternoon to plan.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
São
[sow]
It is
Used to indicate the current time.
São três e meia da tarde agora.
It is three thirty in the afternoon now.
três
[trays]
three
The number equivalent to the sum of two and one.
Vamos encontrar-nos às três.
Let's meet at three.
e
[ee]
and
Used to connect words of the same part of speech.
Três e meia da tarde é cedo.
Three and a half in the afternoon is early.
meia
[may-a]
half
Either of two equal parts that together make up a whole.
É melhor chegar às três e meia da tarde.
It's better to arrive at three thirty in the afternoon.
da
[da]
in the
Used to specify a period within a day.
Ela estuda à tarde.
She studies in the afternoon.
tarde
[tar-day]
afternoon
The time from noon until evening.
Temos reunião da tarde.
We have an afternoon meeting.
Phrase Parts
São
It is
A verb form used for stating the time.
São cinco e meia.
It is five thirty.
três
three
Number three, used in telling time.
Ele tem três gatos.
He has three cats.
e meia
and a half
Used to say 'and half an hour', for telling time on the half-hour.
São quatro e meia.
It is half past four.
da tarde
in the afternoon
Specifies the time of day from midday to evening.
Ele volta da tarde.
He returns in the afternoon.
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