‘Não Vejo a Hora de…’: Say You Can’t Wait in Portuguese — Practice

Use the phrase for eager anticipation

Não vejo a hora de… literally resembles ‘I can’t see the time of…,’ but its natural meaning is ‘I can’t wait to…’ or ‘I’m really looking forward to….’ Use it when you are excited about something that has not happened yet.

After de, you can use an infinitive when you will do the action: não vejo a hora de viajar (I can’t wait to travel). Before a noun, the phrase can express anticipation of that event: não vejo a hora da viagem (I can’t wait for the trip).

Match the phrase to a positive future event

The expression usually carries enthusiasm. It works for plans, a reunion, a performance, or a personal milestone. If the event is uncertain, first make that uncertainty clear rather than promising that it will happen.

For a more neutral update, say estou esperando a viagem (I’m waiting for the trip) or estou ansioso/ansiosa pela viagem (I’m looking forward to the trip). Remember that ansioso and ansiosa agree with the speaker’s gender in this expression.

Remember: Use não vejo a hora de + infinitive or noun when you are excited for a future event: não vejo a hora de viajar; não vejo a hora da viagem.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I can’t wait to visit Salvador.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não vejo a hora de conhecer Salvador.

2. I can’t wait to see you.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não vejo a hora de ver você.

3. I can’t wait for vacation.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não vejo a hora das férias.

4. We can’t wait to start the course.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente não vê a hora de começar o curso.

5. She can’t wait for the show.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela não vê a hora do show.

6. I’m looking forward to meeting your family.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou ansiosa para conhecer sua família.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use não vejo a hora de + infinitive or noun when you are excited for a future event: não vejo a hora de viajar; não vejo a hora da viagem.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our ‘Não Vejo a Hora de…’: Say You Can’t Wait in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.