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The Many Faces of “Mesmo” in Portuguese

LEVEL a2+ TOPIC Other topics adverbs conjunctions

The Portuguese word mesmo is remarkably flexible. Depending on the context, it can express comparison, intensity, or even surprise. Let’s look at the main ways it is used in everyday Portuguese.

Mesmo as a Word of Comparison

Sometimes mesmo (or its feminine form mesma) means the same and is used to compare two things that share similar characteristics:

  • O João tem a mesma personalidade do pai.
  • João has the same personality as his father.

Here, mesma agrees in gender with personalidade, which is a feminine noun.

Another example:

  • A Rute tem o mesmo cabelo da mãe.
  • Rute has the same hair as her mother.

In both sentences, mesmo/mesma introduces a comparison of similarity between people or things.

Mesmo as an Intensifier

Mesmo can also serve to emphasize or strengthen a statement — similar to really or very in English. In this use, mesmo does not change form; it remains mesmo:

  • Hoje estou mesmo contente.
  • Today I’m really happy.
  • O teu casaco é mesmo vermelho.
  • Your jacket is really red.

In these examples, mesmo adds intensity — it reinforces how happy or how red something is.

Mesmo Expressing Surprise

Another frequent use of mesmo is to show surprise or unexpectedness. In this case, mesmo often appears at the beginning of the sentence:

  • Mesmo o Paulo conseguiu passar no teste.
  • Even Paulo managed to pass the test.

The implication is that Paulo was not expected to succeed — his success is surprising. Another example:

  • Mesmo a Itália perdeu com o Uruguai.
  • Even Italy lost to Uruguay.

Here, mesmo emphasizes how surprising the result is, given that Italy is typically a strong team.

Mesmo with Two Clauses

Finally, mesmo can appear in sentences with two clauses, where it expresses contrast — something surprising given the circumstances. It can be translated as even though or despite:

  • Mesmo estando doente, a Marta foi trabalhar.
  • Even though she was sick, Marta went to work.

This structure can also be inverted:

  • A Marta foi trabalhar mesmo estando doente.
  • Marta went to work even though she was sick.

In both cases, mesmo introduces an element of contrast and reinforces the surprising or unexpected nature of the action.

In Summary

The word mesmo is highly adaptable in Portuguese:

  • It compares things (a mesma personalidade).
  • It intensifies meaning (mesmo contente).
  • It adds a tone of surprise (Mesmo o Paulo conseguiu…).
  • It highlights contrast in complex sentences (Mesmo estando doente…).

Learning to recognize these nuances will help you understand and use mesmo naturally — one of those small but powerful words that make Portuguese expressive and precise.

Até já, p

Practice

Todas as frases abaixo utilizam a palavra ‘mesmo’. Completa-as de forma a que façam sentido.

Select an ending, then select the matching phrase to place it.

Hoje a Júlia está mesmo desanimada.

Hoje a Júlia

Tu tens exatamente o mesmo humor do teu pai.

Tu tens exatamente

O Gustavo foi correr mesmo estando a chover.

O Gustavo foi correr

Este arroz de marisco está mesmo muito bom!

Este arroz de marisco

Mesmo o Daniel que não gosta de doces comeu uma nata.

Mesmo o Daniel que não gosta de doces

Mesmo o Pedro deitou-se cedo ontem à noite.

Mesmo o Pedro deitou-se

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