Às vezes estou triste, mas hoje estou feliz.

Sometimes I am sad, but today I am happy.

Breakdown of Às vezes estou triste, mas hoje estou feliz.

• eu: I
• feliz: happy
• estar: to be
• hoje: today
• às vezes: sometimes
• triste: sad
• mas: but

Questions & Answers about Às vezes estou triste, mas hoje estou feliz.

Why is it estou triste instead of sou triste?

In Portuguese, estar is used for conditions or states that are temporary or can change over time—such as feelings, mood, or locations. Ser would imply a more permanent or inherent characteristic. Saying estou triste conveys that you feel sad now, but this emotion may change.

What does às vezes mean, and why does it have an accent?

Às vezes means sometimes. The accent in às is a contraction of the preposition a plus the article as, becoming às. It indicates that “sometimes” is happening in repeated moments or occasions without specifying a definite frequency.

Why does hoje have an ‘h’ at the beginning if it’s not pronounced?

In Portuguese, the ‘h’ is generally silent, but it remains part of the spelling due to historical reasons. The word hoje once evolved from Latin origins, and over time, the letter ‘h’ stopped being pronounced but wasn’t removed from its written form.

How can I remember that hoje means today in English?

A good trick is to notice that hoje and today both have a reference to the present time. One mnemonic device is to connect the silent ‘h’ to the idea of “right here in time,” or simply keep in mind that hoje is always used for the current day, just like today.

When do I use mas instead of other words like porém or mas sim?

Mas is the most common way to say but in everyday Portuguese. You can use porém or contudo (both meaning however) in more formal contexts or to emphasize contrast. Mas sim is used specifically to negate one idea and then correct it with another, as in saying “not this, but that instead.” In this sentence, mas simply introduces a contrasting fact: you were sad before, but today you are happy.