Chega 15 minutos antes.
Arrive 15 minutes early.
Language note: Informal imperative. Polite version you’ll see on tickets: “Chegue 15 minutos antes.”
Culture note: Common advice at terminals like Campanhã (Porto) or Sete Rios/Oriente (Lisboa): arrive early to avoid last-minute stress.
Context: They provide the full helpful sentence as final advice.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Chega
[SHAY-guh]
Arrive (you arrive) / Come
Imperative-style instruction in European Portuguese: telling someone to arrive somewhere.
Chega 15 minutos antes ao terminal de autocarros.
Arrive 15 minutes early at the bus terminal.
15
[quinze]
15 (fifteen)
Number used in travel instructions; here it’s the amount of time earlier you should arrive.
Chega 15 minutos antes para fazeres o check-in.
Arrive 15 minutes early to do check-in.
minutos
[mee-NOO-toosh]
minutes
Time unit; “15 minutos” is a very common recommendation before boarding.
Chega 15 minutos antes e espera junto à porta.
Arrive 15 minutes early and wait near the door.
antes
[AHN-tesh]
before / earlier
In this phrase it means “early”: arrive “before” the scheduled time.
Chega 15 minutos antes da hora marcada.
Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Phrase Parts
Chega
Arrive
Informal imperative (tu) of 'chegar'. It’s like giving advice/instructions: 'Arrive...'.
Chega cedo.
Arrive early.
15 minutos
15 minutes
Time quantity; in speech: 'quinze minutos'.
Faltam 15 minutos.
There are 15 minutes left.
antes.
before / in advance.
Means before the departure time (arrive ahead of time).
Vem antes das dez.
Come before ten.
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