A locução adverbial (adverbial phrase) is a fixed group of words — almost always preposition + noun — that functions as a single adverb. Where English reaches for an -ly word ("calmly," "hurriedly," "accidentally"), Portuguese very often reaches for a phrase ("com calma," "às pressas," "sem querer") instead. Mastering these is one of the fastest ways to sound natural, because Brazilians use them constantly and many have no neat single-word equivalent. This page covers the productive patterns and the most common fixed expressions.
Why phrases instead of -mente adverbs
Portuguese can form manner adverbs with -mente (calmamente, rapidamente), and those are correct. But in everyday speech the prepositional phrase is frequently preferred — it's shorter, punchier, and idiomatic. "Vem com calma" sounds far more natural than "vem calmamente."
Vem com calma, não precisa correr.
Come calmly, there's no need to rush.
Pisei no seu pé sem querer, desculpa!
I stepped on your foot accidentally — sorry!
The productive patterns
A handful of prepositions generate most adverbial phrases. Learn the pattern and you can decode (and produce) dozens.
com + noun = manner ("with X-ness")
This is the workhorse. Com + an abstract noun yields "in an X way."
| Phrase | English | -mente equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| com calma | calmly | calmamente |
| com cuidado | carefully | cuidadosamente |
| com carinho | fondly, lovingly | carinhosamente |
| com pressa | in a hurry | — |
| com frequência | frequently | frequentemente |
Embrulha com cuidado que é frágil.
Wrap it carefully, it's fragile.
Escrevi essa carta com muito carinho.
I wrote this letter very fondly.
sem + noun = "without / un-..."
Sem + noun is the natural negative manner phrase.
Ele respondeu sem pensar e se arrependeu.
He answered without thinking and regretted it.
Apareceu na minha casa sem avisar.
He showed up at my place without warning.
à / às + noun and de + noun
These give time, manner, and mode phrases. Watch the crase accent on à/às (a + a / a + as):
| Phrase | English |
|---|---|
| às pressas | hurriedly, in a rush |
| à toa | aimlessly, for no reason, idly |
| à vontade | at ease, freely, as much as you like |
| de repente | suddenly |
| de propósito | on purpose, deliberately |
| de novo | again |
| de vez em quando | now and then |
| por acaso | by chance, by any chance |
| ao mesmo tempo | at the same time |
De repente o céu escureceu e começou a chover.
Suddenly the sky darkened and it started to rain.
Você fez isso de propósito ou foi sem querer?
Did you do that on purpose or by accident?
Fica à vontade, a casa é sua.
Make yourself at home — the house is yours.
Por acaso você viu meu guarda-chuva?
Did you by any chance see my umbrella?
Means of transport: a pé, de carro
A special and very common set describes how you travel. Portuguese uses a for "on/by" under your own power and de for "by" a vehicle.
| Phrase | English |
|---|---|
| a pé | on foot |
| a cavalo | on horseback |
| de carro | by car |
| de ônibus | by bus |
| de avião | by plane |
| de bicicleta / de bike | by bike |
Vou a pé, é pertinho daqui.
I'll walk — it's really close.
The logic: a pé (on foot) and a cavalo (on horseback) use a because they're "on" your own legs or the animal; everything mechanical takes de. Note there's no article — it's "de carro," never "de o carro."
Discourse and quantity phrases
Some adverbial phrases comment on the whole statement or set a frame:
| Phrase | English |
|---|---|
| em geral / de modo geral | in general, generally |
| de fato | indeed, in fact |
| por enquanto | for now |
| de uma vez | all at once, once and for all |
| aos poucos | little by little, gradually |
Em geral, o atendimento aqui é ótimo.
In general, the service here is great.
Aos poucos ela foi se acostumando com a cidade nova.
Little by little she got used to the new city.
Common Mistakes
❌ Ele dirige com cuidadosamente.
Incorrect — don't combine com with a -mente adverb; pick one
✅ Ele dirige com cuidado. / Ele dirige cuidadosamente.
He drives carefully.
❌ Eu fiz isso por acidente.
Calque from English 'by accident'; Portuguese says sem querer or por acaso
✅ Eu fiz isso sem querer.
I did it by accident / unintentionally.
❌ Fui para a escola de o carro.
Incorrect — transport phrases take no article: de carro
✅ Fui para a escola de carro.
I went to school by car.
❌ Ela ficou a toa o dia todo.
Incorrect — missing the grave accent on à
✅ Ela ficou à toa o dia todo.
She lounged around all day.
Key Takeaways
- A locução adverbial is a fixed preposition + noun phrase acting as one adverb.
- com + noun = manner ("com calma" = calmly); sem + noun = "without" ("sem querer" = accidentally).
- de and à/às form many time/manner phrases: de repente, de propósito, às pressas, à toa.
- Transport: a for your own power (a pé, a cavalo), de for vehicles (de carro, de ônibus) — and no article.
- In speech these phrases usually beat the long -mente adverb for naturalness.
Related Topics
- Adverbs of MannerA2 — How Brazilian Portuguese says 'how' an action is done — the irregular bem/mal, dedicated adverbs like devagar and depressa, and the very common bare adjective used as an invariable adverb (fala baixo, corre rápido).
- Compound PrepositionsA2 — How Brazilian Portuguese builds spatial and relational meaning from two- and three-word prepositions ending in 'de' or 'a' — perto de, em cima de, em frente a — and how that final word contracts with the article.
- Adverbs: OverviewA2 — What adverbs are in Brazilian Portuguese, why they never agree, the main semantic types, and how -mente formation and flexible placement work.
- Adverbs of FrequencyA1 — How often something happens in Brazilian Portuguese — from sempre to nunca — plus where these adverbs go and how to express rates like 'twice a week'.