Master Portuguese Prepositions: Essential Guide to Usage and Meaning

Understanding Portuguese Prepositions

Portuguese prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other parts of a sentence. They establish relationships that are crucial for sentence meaning, such as indicating location, time, direction, cause, and possession. Unlike English, Portuguese prepositions can sometimes combine with articles or pronouns, creating contractions that are important to recognize and use correctly.

What Are Portuguese Prepositions?

Prepositions in Portuguese serve as connectors. Examples include:

• de (of, from)
• em (in, on, at)
• para (for, to)
• com (with)
• por (by, through, because of)

Each preposition can have multiple uses depending on context, which makes understanding their nuances essential for learners.

Types of Portuguese Prepositions and Their Uses

Simple Prepositions

Simple prepositions consist of a single word and are the most common in Portuguese. Here are some key examples with their primary uses:

• de: indicates origin, possession, or material
  • Ex: O livro de Maria. (Maria’s book)
  • Ex: Ele veio de Portugal. (He came from Portugal)
• em: indicates location or time
  • Ex: Estou em casa. (I am at home)
  • Ex: A reunião é em maio. (The meeting is in May)
• para: indicates direction, recipient, or purpose
  • Ex: Vou para o Brasil. (I’m going to Brazil)
  • Ex: Este presente é para você. (This gift is for you)
• com: means “with” and indicates accompaniment
  • Ex: Eu falo com ele. (I speak with him)
• por: expresses cause, means, or movement through
  • Ex: Fiz isso por amor. (I did this out of love)
  • Ex: Passamos por essa rua. (We passed through this street)

Compound Prepositions

Compound prepositions consist of two or more words and often express more specific relationships:

• ao lado de – next to
• de acordo com – according to
• em frente de – in front of
• por causa de – because of

These prepositions are very useful for detailed descriptions and formal speech.

Common Challenges When Learning Portuguese Prepositions

Preposition Contractions

One of the unique features of Portuguese prepositions is their ability to contract with definite articles. This can confuse learners but is essential for natural speech and writing.

• de + o = do
• de + a = da
• em + o = no
• em + a = na
• por + o = pelo
• por + a = pela

Examples:

• Ele saiu do escritório. (He left the office.)
• Ela está na escola. (She is at the school.)

Prepositions That Don’t Translate Directly

Many Portuguese prepositions do not have a one-to-one translation with English, leading to mistakes. For example:

• “Gostar de” means “to like,” but literally “like of”
• “Pensar em” means “to think about,” but literally “think in”
• “Depender de” means “to depend on,” but literally “depend of”

Understanding these idiomatic expressions is crucial for fluency.

Choosing the Correct Preposition

Some verbs require specific prepositions, and choosing the wrong one can change the meaning or render the sentence incorrect. For example:

• Gostar de</ – to like
• Pensar em</ – to think about
• Ir para</ – to go to