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Using Cardinal Directions and Prepositions to Describe Geographic Location in Portuguese
Understanding how to describe geographic location is essential for clear communication in Portuguese.
When referring to cities, regions, or relative positions within a country, speakers rely on a combination of cardinal directions and specific prepositions. This article explains how to use these elements correctly, focusing on common patterns in European Portuguese.
Cardinal Directions in Portuguese
Portuguese uses eight main cardinal points:
- Norte
- North
- Nordeste
- Northeast
- Leste
- East
- Sudeste
- Southeast
- Sul
- South
- Sudoeste
- Southwest
- Oeste
- West
- Noroeste
- Northwest
* Leste = Este
All of these terms are masculine.
Locating a City Within a Country: Preposition em
When describing the position of a city within a national territory, Portuguese uses the preposition em, often in its contracted forms (no, na, nos, nas) depending on the gender and number of the following noun.
North–South Axis
- Braga fica no norte de Portugal.
- Braga is in the north of Portugal.
Because norte, sul, leste and oeste are masculine, the contraction no is used. You may also add an additional work such as região (region):
- Braga fica na região norte de Portugal.
- Braga is in the northern region of Portugal.
Another example:
- Faro fica no sul de Portugal.
- Faro is in the south of Portugal.
East–West Axis
With east–west references, Portuguese typically requires an additional word such as região, zona or parte between the preposition and the cardinal point:
- Sesimbra fica na região oeste de Portugal.
- Sesimbra is in the western region of Portugal.
- Bragança fica na zona leste de Portugal.
- Bragança is in the eastern area of Portugal.
Portuguese also uses broader geographic descriptors:
- Sesimbra fica no litoral de Portugal.
- Sesimbra is on the Portuguese coast.
- Bragança fica no interior de Portugal.
- Bragança is in inland Portugal.
Locating One City in Relation to Another: Preposition a
When describing the position of one city relative to another, the preposition changes. Portuguese uses a (not em) for relative geographic references.
- Viana do Castelo fica a norte de Esposende.
- Viana do Castelo is north of Esposende.
- Lisboa fica a sul do Porto.
- Lisbon is south of Porto.
- Tavira fica a leste de Lagos.
- Tavira is east of Lagos.
- A Figueira da Foz fica a oeste de Coimbra.
- Figueira da Foz is west of Coimbra.
Recap
Use em when locating a city or place within a territory, often in a contracted form and sometimes with an additional noun such as região or zona. Use a when expressing the position of one city or place relative to another.
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