No sábado, nós vamos comprar pão na padaria.

to buy

Breakdown of No sábado, nós vamos comprar pão na padaria.

• ir: to go
• nós: we
• o pão: the bread
• a padaria: the bakery
• no sábado: on Saturday

Questions & Answers about No sábado, nós vamos comprar pão na padaria.

Why do we say "No sábado" instead of "Em sábado"?

In Portuguese, no is a contraction of em + o, which translates to on in English (in this context). So no sábado literally means on (the) Saturday. Saying em sábado is not common usage in Portuguese.

Do we always need "nós" before "vamos comprar"?

No, in Portuguese it's optional because the verb form often indicates the subject. You could say No sábado, vamos comprar pão na padaria and it would still be clear that we are the ones going to buy bread. However, adding nós can sound a bit more explicit or emphatic.

Why is there no article before "pão"?

In Portuguese, when talking about something in a general, non-specific way (like bread in general, not a specific loaf), you can omit the article. If you said o pão, it would refer more specifically to the bread.

What does "na padaria" literally mean?

Na padaria is a contraction of em + a padaria, which translates to at the bakery or in the bakery. It indicates the location where you’re going to buy the bread.

Could I use "ir comprar" separately, like "No sábado, nós vamos à padaria para comprar pão"?

Yes! Nós vamos comprar pão is a straightforward future tense construction (we are going to buy). If you say Nós vamos à padaria para comprar pão, you’re adding more detail about going to the bakery specifically to buy bread. Both forms are correct and natural.

Is "No sábado" used only for Saturdays, or can I say "No domingo"?

You can use the same structure for any day of the week: No domingo (on Sunday), Na segunda-feira (on Monday), and so on. It’s the standard way to say on [day of the week] in Portuguese.