If you’ve reached the point in your Portuguese learning where you thought that you were progressing only to start feeling like the more you study the less you understand, then this post is for you. We’re going to look at sentences for intermediate speakers. If this is too advanced then start here first.
These expressions and sentences will be built with words you probably already know. However, because of other words around them their meaning has now changed. This is what makes them confusing again. And they’re the type of meanings that you don’t expect given their more literal associations.
Sentences for intermediate speakers
1. por volta de
Literally this translates to “for or by return of”, but the meaning is “around” in the context of numbers and time or time of the year:
A que horas sais? (at what time do you leave/get out?)
Saio por volta das 10 horas. (I leave/get out at 10 O’clock.)
Note: you don’t have to say “horas” if the context is understood, similar to how we don’t need to say O’clock in English every single time. Click here for three additional audio examples.
2. assim que
This one means “as soon as”.
Liga-me assim que chegares! (call me as soon as you get there!) Click here for three audio examples on how to use this expression.
3. dar jeito
“jeito” is another one of those words that can be used in multiple expressions and having different meanings. Watch this video here and/or here to learn more about “jeito” specifically.
It literally means “to give aptness” but the meaning is to be useful or convenient.
Isto dá-me jeito. (This is handy for me)
4. ter mais que fazer
So literally this translates to “to have more what to do”, this is equivalent to saying “to have better things to do”
Tenho mais que fazer do que estar aqui. (I have better things to do than be here.)
5. só me faltava esta
Literally “only missing this to me” and this is how we say “this was all I needed” (also can be used sarcastically.)
Boa..só me faltava. (Great…That’s all I needed.)
6. fazer figas
This is an interesting one it means “making figs” or “making the fig sign”. It is similar to saying “fingers crossed”.
If you would like to know more about this symbol and it’s connection to Portugal, then click here.
7. desatar-se a rir
The literal translation of this one is “to untie oneself laughing” but the meaning is “to burst out laughing”.
Desatei-me a rir ontem. (I burst out laughing yesterday.)
8. rir às gargalhadas
Literally “to laugh guffaws”. The meaning is “to laugh out loud” or a belly laugh. This is another way to say the previous one with a bit more emphasis. Almost like “rolling on the floor laughing out loud.”
Ontem desatei-me a rir às gargalhadas. (I burst out laughing yesterday.)
9. ter a ver com or ter que ver com
In a literal sense it translates to “to have to see with” and this is how you say “to have or having to do with”
Isto não tem nada a ver com isso. (This has nothing to do with that.)
10. resumindo e concluindo
Literally: summarising and concluding
You might be thinking that “resumnindo” would mean resuming, it does but most of the time it’s used in the context of summirising / in short / to sum up etc.
Both are used in what’s called the gerund tense, more on that in another lesson.
11. dar para perceber
Literally: “to give for to understand”. Its meaning is equivalent to when we say “one could tell” or that something was noticeable.
Dava para perceber que eles estva nervoso. (One could tell he was nervous.)
12. há cerca de
The literal translation for this one is “there are about”
In terms of what it means, that will depends on the context and how the word “há” is being used with this combination of words.
If “há” means “there are” then the literal translation is also its actual meaning:
Há cerca de 10 pessoas aqui. (there are about 10 people here)
If “há” means “ago” then “há cerca de” will be connected to a length of time, such as “I arrived about an hour ago”:
Cheguei há cerca de uma hora.
13. apesar de
This one has multiple translations but the main ones are:
though, even though, although, in spite of and despite
Apesar de tudo ainda gosto de vir aqui. (In spite of everything, I still like to come here.)
14. ir ter com
Literally this one translates to “to go to have with, but the meaning is “to meet someone somewhere” in the sense of joining someone somewhere.
Vou ter com ele lá. (I’m going to meet him there.)
15. à última hora
Literally: at the ultimate hour but it means “at the last minute.”
Arranjaram uma solução há última hora. (They arraged a solution at the last minute.)
I hope you enjoyed these sentences for intermediate speakers. Let me know in the comments which one you liked the best and try to use it in a sentence of your own. Be sure to let me know what that is too. If you found this too advanced then try here first.
I’ll be more than happy to help you and answer any questions you may have. Keep an eye out for the next intermediate to advanced sentences lesson!
Lina xx
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