Portuguese Question Words
The question words themselves are short and regular. The one genuinely hard part is that why and because are spelled four different ways.
The question words
-
quem
kang
-
who
-
o que
oo KEH
-
what
que on its own also works
-
onde
ON-jee
-
where
-
quando
KWAN-doo
-
when
-
por que
poor KEH
-
why
-
como
KOH-moo
-
how
-
qual
kwahl
-
which
quais for more than one
-
quanto
KWAN-too
-
how much
quantos or quantas for how many
Where to and where from
-
aonde
ah-ON-jee
-
where to
Aonde você vai? Where are you going?
-
de onde
jee ON-jee
-
where from
De onde você é? Where are you from?
The four spellings of porque
Por que in two words asks the question: Por que você está aqui?
Porque in one word answers it: Porque eu quero. Because I want to.
Por quê in two words with a circumflex is used when it ends the sentence: Você não vem, por quê?
O porquê with an article is a noun meaning the reason: Não sei o porquê.
Native speakers get this wrong constantly, so you are in good company. The first two carry almost all the everyday use.
- Como você se chama?What is your name?
- Por que você estuda português? Porque eu gosto.Why do you study Portuguese? Because I like it.
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