Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): Você tem sede ou está apenas cansado?

In Portuguese, the expression for being thirsty is idiomatic. Instead of using estar with an adjective (like “thirsty”), Portuguese speakers say ter sede (“to have thirst”). It follows a different construction from English, even though the meaning is the same.

Why isn’t the subject você repeated before está in the second clause “ou está apenas cansado?”

In Portuguese, it is common to omit the subject in the second clause when it’s clear from context. Since você is already established in the first clause, it is understood in the second clause. This omission helps make the sentence more concise.

Why is the adjective cansado in its masculine form even though você can refer to either gender?

The adjective must agree in gender with the person being addressed. In this sentence, cansado is in the masculine form because the speaker assumes the person addressed is male or is using the masculine as a generic form. If speaking to a female, the adjective would be cansada.

What does the adverb apenas mean in this context, and why is it placed before cansado?

In this sentence, apenas means only or just. It emphasizes that being tired is the only condition mentioned as opposed to being thirsty. Its placement before cansado clarifies that the tiredness is the sole alternative the speaker is considering.

Could I say “Você está sedento?” instead of “Você tem sede?” and would that be correct?

While sedento is an adjective meaning thirsty, using it as “Você está sedento?” is much less common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. The standard, idiomatic way to express thirst is to say “Você tem sede?” rather than using the adjective sedento.