pontual

Pontual is a Portuguese adjective meaning punctual, on time, or occurring at the scheduled moment. It can describe a person who arrives on time, an event that happens at the planned time, or a device that keeps accurate time. The term is widely used in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese.

In practice, pontual describes punctual behavior: "Ele é pontual" (He is punctual). It can describe schedules and commitments: "O trem chegou pontual às 8h" (The train arrived on time at 8 o’clock). The related noun pontualidade denotes punctuality, and the adverb pontualmente indicates doing something in a punctual manner: "chegou pontualmente" (arrived punctually).

The concept relates to time management and reliability, often associated with professional conduct and planning. Etymologically, pontual is a Romance-language term cognate with Spanish puntual and French ponctuel, reflecting a shared Latin heritage connected with marking moments in time.

Variations and usage differ slightly between dialects, but the core meaning remains stable: accuracy of timing, reliability in appointments, and timeliness in schedules. In some contexts, speakers prefer phrases like "falta de pontualidade" to describe lateness rather than using a direct opposite adjective.

See also: Pontualidade, Pontualmente.

This is a concise, neutral overview suitable for a lexicographic entry.