ao menos

[ow MEH-nos]

adverb

at least

1. indicating a minimum quantity or degree; not less than

You should study at least two hours per day.

Você deveria estudar ao menos duas horas por dia.

2. used to express a consoling or mitigating circumstance

The project failed, but at least we learned from it.

O projeto falhou, mas ao menos aprendemos com isso.

3. expressing a lower limit in a series of possibilities

It will cost at least 500 euros.

Vai custar ao menos 500 euros.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

ao menos / pelo menos

Both forms are commonly used in Brazil, with 'pelo menos' being slightly more frequent

São Paulo

ao menos / pelo menos

Both forms are standard usage

Rio de Janeiro

ao menos / pelo menos

Both forms are standard usage

Portugal

ao menos / pelo menos

Both forms are used; 'ao menos' is considered more formal or literary

ao menos que - unless

ou ao menos - or at least

se ao menos - if only

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