Skip to main content
Portuguese (Brazilian) Level 1 noun

tempo

/ˈtẽ.pu/

Definition

Time, or the weather — two of the most talked-about things in daily life.

Example

Não tenho tempo para assistir televisão hoje.

Show translation

I don't have time to watch television today.

Etymology

From Latin *tempus* ("time, season, weather"). The same root gave English "temporary" and "tempo," and it underlies the Spanish *tiempo* and Italian *tempo* — all carrying the same productive double meaning of time and weather.

Cultural note

Brazilian Portuguese uses *tempo* for both "time" and "weather," just like Spanish *tiempo*. This can trip up English speakers who expect two separate words. Context makes it clear: *Que tempo lindo!* means "What beautiful weather!", while *Não tenho tempo* means "I don't have time." Also note the phrase *com o tempo* ("over time / in time"), extremely common in everyday speech.

Browse all Portuguese (Brazilian) words →