Difference between revisions of "Language/Portuguese/Grammar/Gender"
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* o barco = boat | * o barco = boat | ||
* o prato = plate | * o prato = plate | ||
====Exceptions==== | |||
Here is a common exception: | Here is a common exception: | ||
* a tribo = tribe | * a tribo = tribe |
Revision as of 21:09, 23 August 2022
How do we guess gender of nouns in Portuguese?
A noun is a word or a group of words which can be the subject of a verb and which corresponds semantically to an object of thought (being or class of beings, thing, property, state, feeling, process, relation, quantity... ).
Nouns that are usually masculine in Portuguese
Nouns ending in O
- o jogo = game
- o barco = boat
- o prato = plate
Exceptions
Here is a common exception:
- a tribo = tribe
Nouns ending in I or U
- o abacaxi = pineapple
- o caju = cashew
- o bisturi = scalpel
- o baú = trunk
Nouns ending in a consonant
- o hotel = hotel
- o papel = paper
- o cristal = crystal
- o amor = love
- o mar = sea
- o lápis = pencil
- o país = country
Exceptions
There are exceptions. Some nouns ending in “or” are feminine:
- a dor = the pain
- a cor = the color
- a flor = the flower
Nouns ending in EMA
This might be counter intuitive because of the “a” at the end:
- o problema = problem
- o cinema = cinema
- o telefonema = phone call
Nouns usually feminine in Portuguese
Nouns ending in Ã
- a maçã = apple
- a manhã = morning
- a hortelã = mint
Exceptions
There are exceptions, of course:
- o talismã = talisman
- o ímã = magnet
Nouns ending in A
- a cadeira = chair
- a cama = bed
- a mesa = table
Exceptions
A couple of very common exceptions to this rule:
- o mapa = map
- o dia = day
Nouns ending in DADE
- a cidade = city
- a universidade = university
- a tempestade = storm
Nouns ending in AÇÃO
- a nação = nation
- a ação = action
- a confirmação = confirmation
Nouns ending in AGEM
- a viagem = trip
- a garagem = garage (not parking)
- a massagem = massage
Some nouns have a single form for masculine and feminine
Nouns ending in ENTE
- o/a paciente = patient
- o/a cliente = client
- o/a parente = relative (family member)
Nouns ending in ANTE
- o/a fumante = smoker
- o/a estudante = student
- o/a ajudante = helper
Nouns ending in ISTA
- o/a dentista = dentist
- o/a massagista = masseur
- o/a turista = tourist