Nós devemos relaxar durante o feriado.

the

Breakdown of Nós devemos relaxar durante o feriado.

• nós: we
• durante: during
• dever: to have to
• relaxar: to relax
• feriado: holiday

Questions & Answers about Nós devemos relaxar durante o feriado.

What is the difference between Nós and A gente in Brazilian Portuguese?

Both Nós and A gente mean we in English. However, Nós is more formal, while A gente is commonly used in informal speech. Grammatically, Nós uses the verb conjugation for the nós form (e.g., nós falamos), whereas A gente accompanies the third-person singular form (e.g., a gente fala).

Is devemos closer in meaning to "we should," "we must," or "we ought to"?

Devemos can cover all those nuances, but in general, it conveys an idea of obligation or strong recommendation—like a mix of "we should" and "we must." It’s often translated as "we should" in softer contexts and "we must" when the speaker wants to emphasize responsibility.

Could I use precisamos instead of devemos here?

Yes, you can say Nós precisamos relaxar durante o feriado ("We need to relax during the holiday"). The meaning is similar, though precisamos ("we need to") sounds slightly stronger in terms of necessity compared to devemos.

What are some synonyms for relaxar?

Some synonyms include descansar ("to rest"), descontrair ("to unwind"), or ficar tranquilo/à vontade ("to stay calm/at ease"). Relaxar is generally used when talking about unwinding physically or mentally.

Why is it durante o feriado and not no feriado?

Durante o feriado literally means "during the holiday," emphasizing the duration of the entire holiday period. No feriado ("on the holiday") might suggest a single day or a specific point within the holiday, though some speakers do use no feriado to refer to the holiday in a broad sense as well.