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Portuguese Expressions with Matar
The Portuguese verb matar literally means “to kill,” but like many common verbs, it appears in a wide range of idiomatic expressions that have nothing to do…
How Passive Listening Can Boost Your Language Learning
Learning a new language can feel overwhelming, especially at the start. One powerful yet often underrated tool is passive listening—the art of absorbing the language without focusing…
How to pronounce M in Portuguese
In European Portuguese, the letter M can produce two distinct sounds: [m] or [ŋ]. Let’s break this down: Companion read Related Articles Lessons Blanks Ouves o /ʃ/?…
Automatic Language Growth: Origins, Strengths, and Shortcomings
Automatic Language Growth (ALG) is a method of language acquisition that emphasizes natural, effortless learning through exposure and interaction, rather than relying on explicit grammar rules or…
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Tonic Object Pronouns in Portuguese: Mim, Ti, Si, and More
A solid understanding of Portuguese tonic object pronouns enhances natural and fluent speech. These pronouns follow prepositions and emphasize the object of a sentence. Let’s take a…
Are Language-Learning Apps Like Duolingo Worth It?
Language-learning apps like Duolingo and Babbel have transformed how we acquire new languages. With millions of users worldwide, these platforms promise bite-sized, accessible lessons that seamlessly fit…
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Common Auxiliary Verbs in Portuguese
Have you ever struggled to determine whether an auxiliary verb should be followed by ‘a’ or not? For example, many students say Vou a comprar leite, but…
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Portuguese Past Perfect: Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito
The Portuguese equivalent of the English Past Perfect is called Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito, and it’s used to express an action that happened in the past before another past…
Plural Endings to Portuguese Nouns Ending in -ão
Nouns ending in the nasal diphthong ‘-ão’ are quite common in Portuguese. While one might assume these nouns form their plural by simply adding an ‘s’—resulting in…
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Difference Between Tudo and Todo in Portuguese
What’s the difference between tudo and todo/toda/todos/todas? These are all indefinite pronouns often translated as “all” in English, though tudo is more commonly rendered as “everything.” But…
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Mass vs Count Nouns in Portuguese
What are the Portuguese equivalents of “much” vs “many” and “little” vs “few”? To answer this question, it’s essential to understand the difference between mass nouns and…
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Double Negation in Portuguese
In Portuguese, like in other Romance languages, double negation is a very common feature. What is double negation? Double negation occurs when two negative elements are used…
Rhotic Sounds in European Portuguese
Rhotic sounds, often referred to as ‘r’ sounds, are a defining feature of European Portuguese pronunciation. In short, in European Portuguese, the letter ‘r’ produces 2 sounds:…
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Pretérito Perfeito Simples vs Composto in Portuguese
In short, the Pretérito Perfeito Simples is used to describe complete actions, whereas the Pretérito Perfeito Composto (also known as the Preterite) conveys an ongoing temporal quality, particularly when something has been happening recently. Read…
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Portuguese Verb-Pronoun Placement
You have probably noticed that when using reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun placement varies – sometimes comes after the verb, sometimes precedes the verb. The same happens…
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Using Portuguese Prepositions ‘A’ and ‘Em’ with Time: Routine vs. One-Off Events
Portuguese prepositions can take on different roles depending on the context. For example, “a” is primarily a preposition of movement, while “em” is predominantly a preposition of…
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Portuguese Indefinite Pronouns
A good grasp of Portuguese pronouns is a key step toward building fluent, natural sentences and today we’re focusing on indefinite pronouns. Simply put, pronouns replace nouns…
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Prepositions ‘De’ vs ‘Em’ in Portuguese (Mode of Transport)
In Portuguese, ‘de’ is used for general references to the mode of transport, while ’em’ is used for specific instances. Remember, ‘de’ remains in its basic form,…
