What Does “há” Mean in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, “há” is a conjugated form of the verb “haver,” which means “to have” or “to exist.” However, when talking about time, “há” functions differently. It is primarily used to indicate that something happened a certain amount of time ago. In English, the equivalent would often be “ago” or “it’s been.”
Using “há” to Say “Ago”
The most common use of “há” regarding time is to say how long ago something happened. The structure is straightforward:
- há + amount of time
Some examples include:
- Cheguei há duas horas. (I arrived two hours ago.)
- O filme começou há 15 minutos. (The movie started 15 minutes ago.)
- Moro aqui há cinco anos. (I have lived here for five years.)
Common Mistakes with “há”
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing “há” with “faz.” Both can sometimes indicate the passage of time, but “há” is more formal and often preferred in writing, while “faz” is commonly used in everyday speech in Brazil. For example, “Faz dois anos que moro aqui” and “Moro aqui há dois anos” both mean “I have lived here for two years.” However, using “há” is generally safer and universally accepted in both Portugal and Brazil.
Negative Sentences with “há”
When you want to express that something hasn’t happened for a certain amount of time, you use “não” before the verb:
- Não o vejo há muito tempo. (I haven’t seen him for a long time.)
- Não chove aqui há semanas. (It hasn’t rained here for weeks.)
“Há” vs. “A” – Don’t Get Confused!
In Portuguese, “há” (with an “h”) and “a” (without “h”) can both relate to time, but they are used differently. “Há” means “ago” or “for,” while “a” is used for future time reference (in). For example:
- há dois dias (two days ago)
- daqui a dois dias (in two days)
Remember: “há” is always for the past; “a” is for the future.
Using “há” in Questions
To ask how long ago something happened, you can use “há quanto tempo…”:
- Há quanto tempo você mora aqui? (How long have you lived here?)
- Há quanto tempo você estuda português? (How long have you been studying Portuguese?)
Practice and Tips
To internalize the use of “há” with time, try these tips:
- Practice forming sentences about your daily routine: “Acordei há uma hora.” (I woke up an hour ago.)
- Listen to native speakers, podcasts, or lessons on Talkpal to hear “há” in context.
- Write short paragraphs about your past week, using “há” to describe when things happened.
Conclusion
Using “há” correctly is fundamental for talking about time in Portuguese. Whether you’re sharing your experiences or asking about someone else’s, mastering “há” will make your conversations smoother and more natural. Keep practicing with real-life examples, explore more resources on the Talkpal AI language learning blog, and you’ll soon find using “há” second nature in your Portuguese journey!
