Entre vs. No Meio de: Say ‘Between’ and ‘In the Middle of’ in Portuguese
Learn how entre and no meio de describe positions, choices, and moments in natural Brazilian Portuguese.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Entre often means between and can introduce two locations, people, or options. In a group context, it can also describe something that happens among people. The preposition stays the same while the nouns after it change.
Use entre for a position or choice between things
A farmácia fica entre o banco e o mercado.
The pharmacy is between the bank and the market.
Estamos decidindo entre viajar de ônibus e viajar de carro.
We’re deciding between traveling by bus and traveling by car.
Use no meio de for the center of a place or activity
No meio de means in the middle of. Use it for the physical center of a room or street, and informally for being in the middle of an activity or situation. The contraction no combines em + o.
A mesa ficou no meio da sala.
The table ended up in the middle of the room.
Ele me ligou no meio da reunião.
He called me in the middle of the meeting.
Avoid translating ‘among’ word for word
Entre can translate “among” when the sentence describes a relationship within a group. No meio de focuses more on being surrounded by or located in the center of something. Choose the phrase that matches the picture you want the listener to imagine.
Essa expressão é comum entre os jovens.
That expression is common among young people.
A criança estava no meio dos adultos.
The child was in the middle of the adults.
Put it into practice
Use entre for a relationship or position between/among; choose no meio de when you mean the middle of a place or event.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The table ended up in the middle of the room”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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