Portuguese Grammar
Afim vs. A Fim de: Related or ‘In Order To’?
Afim means related or similar; a fim de introduces a purpose, while estar a fim de can mean wanting to do something.
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Portuguese Grammar
Tampouco vs. Tão Pouco: Neither or So Little?
Tampouco means ‘neither’ or ‘not either’; tão pouco means ‘so little’ or ‘such a small amount.’
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Descrição vs. Discrição: Description or Discretion?
Descrição explains what something is like; discrição means tact, privacy, or restraint.
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Despensa vs. Dispensa: Pantry or Exemption?
Despensa is a pantry; dispensa can mean an exemption, dismissal, or the act of dispensing with something.
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Ratificar vs. Retificar: Confirm or Correct?
Ratificar confirms a decision; retificar corrects an error or amends a detail.
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Tráfego vs. Tráfico: Traffic Flow or Trafficking?
Tráfego is movement or flow, such as road or internet traffic; tráfico often means trafficking or an illicit trade.
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Eminente vs. Iminente: Prominent or About to Happen?
An eminente person is distinguished; an iminente event is about to happen.
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Mandato vs. Mandado: Term of Office or Official Order?
Mandato is authority or a term of office; mandado is an order or something commanded.
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Cozer vs. Coser: Cook or Sew?
Cozer is cooking; coser is sewing. Both are verbs, but they describe completely different actions.
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Portuguese Grammar
Tem vs. Têm: When Does Portuguese Use the Circumflex?
Tem is singular; têm is plural. The circumflex marks the third-person plural form of ter.
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Vem vs. Vêm: Singular or Plural in Portuguese?
Vem has no circumflex for a singular subject; vêm uses the circumflex for a plural subject.
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Pode vs. Pôde: Can or Could in Portuguese?
Pode is present tense; pôde is the past-tense form meaning that someone was able or allowed to do something.
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Acento vs. Assento: Accent or Seat?
Acento is a linguistic or pronunciation feature; assento is a place to sit.
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Imigrar vs. Emigrar: Move Into or Move Away?
Imigrar focuses on entering a new country; emigrar focuses on leaving the country of origin.
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Espiar vs. Expiar: Peek or Atone?
Espiar means to peek or observe secretly; expiar means to atone or undergo a penalty.
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Osso vs. Ouço: Bone or ‘I Hear’?
Osso is a bone; ouço is the ‘I hear’ form of ouvir. Context and spelling separate the homophones.
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Everyday Conversation
Cadê vs. Onde Está? Ask ‘Where Is It?’ in Brazilian Portuguese
Cadê? is a common informal way to ask where something or someone is; onde está? is the complete, neutral question pattern.
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Tanto Faz vs. Qualquer Um: Say ‘Either Is Fine’ in Portuguese
Tanto faz describes your lack of preference; qualquer um or qualquer uma says that any member of a group is acceptable.
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