The Many Meanings of 'que' — Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

The word is one of the most common and versatile words in Portuguese. It can function as a pronoun, a conjunction, an adverb, or part of a fixed expression, with its meaning changing based on the context.

As a Conjunction ('that')

is frequently used to connect a main clause to a subordinate clause, similar to "that" in English. In informal Brazilian Portuguese, this is often omitted in speech.

Eu acho que vai chover hoje.
I think that it's going to rain today.
Ela me disse que não poderia vir.
She told me that she couldn't come.
Espero que você goste do presente.
I hope (that) you like the gift.

As a Relative Pronoun ('that', 'which', 'who')

As a relative pronoun, introduces a clause that gives more information about a noun mentioned just before it. It can refer to people, places, or things.

O livro que estou lendo é muito interessante.
The book that I'm reading is very interesting.
A pessoa que me ligou era minha prima.
The person who called me was my cousin.
Esta é a casa que nós compramos.
This is the house which we bought.

As an Interrogative Pronoun ('what')

is used to ask questions. When it comes at the beginning of a question, it is often preceded by , forming . When it appears at the very end of a sentence, it takes a circumflex accent: .

O que você está fazendo?
What are you doing?
Que horas são?
What time is it?
Você vai comer o quê?
You are going to eat what?

In Comparisons ('than')

is used in comparative sentences to mean "than". In Brazilian Portuguese, it is very common to use the form in the same context, with no change in meaning.

Meu carro é mais rápido que o seu.
My car is faster than yours.
Ela é mais inteligente do que eu pensava.
She is more intelligent than I thought.
Eu prefiro praia a montanha, mas meu irmão prefere montanha que praia.
I prefer the beach to the mountains, but my brother prefers mountains to/than the beach.

In Exclamations ('what a', 'how')

To express surprise, admiration, or another strong emotion, is placed at the beginning of a phrase. It can be followed by a noun or an adjective.

Que dia lindo!
What a beautiful day!
Que bagunça!
What a mess!
Que legal que você veio!
How cool that you came!

In Set Expressions

is also a key component in many common grammatical structures. One of the most frequent is + infinitive, which expresses obligation, equivalent to "to have to".

Eu tenho que estudar para a prova.
I have to study for the test.
Nós temos que sair agora.
We have to leave now.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Brazilian Portuguese course

60 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 6. A few of them, with the words “The Many Meanings of 'que'” is about in bold:

Que ridículo. Vocês dois estão errados.
How ridiculous. You are both wrong.
Lesson 163
Tenho que andar de bicicleta até comprar um carro novo.
I have to ride my bike until I get a new car.
Lesson 301
Gostaria que você fosse mais frugal.
I wish you were more frugal.
Lesson 328

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