Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): Perdi minha carteira; ninguém a viu no elevador. - I lost my wallet; nobody saw it in the elevator.

Portuguese often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending (-i in perdi) already shows the subject. Eu perdi is also correct, but it adds emphasis or contrast.

Why use perdi (simple past) rather than something like tenho perdido?

In Brazilian Portuguese, the pretérito perfeito (perdi) expresses a single completed event, even when English might say have lost. Tenho perdido means have been losing (repeatedly), which doesn’t fit a one-time loss.

What does carteira mean here—wallet or purse?

In Brazil, carteira usually means wallet/billfold. Purse/handbag is bolsa. Note that carteira also appears in compounds like carteira de motorista (driver’s license).

Why is it minha and not meu?

Agreement: carteira is feminine, so the possessive is minha. Masculine nouns take meu (e.g., meu cartão).

Should it be Perdi minha carteira or Perdi a minha carteira?

Both are fine in Brazil. The article before a possessive is optional; omitting it is very common and slightly more informal. Using a minha can sound more formal or emphatic.

Why a semicolon; could I use something else?

The semicolon links two related independent clauses. Alternatives:

Perdi minha carteira. Ninguém a viu no elevador.
Perdi minha carteira, e ninguém a viu no elevador. A bare comma (comma splice) is not recommended.

In ninguém a viu, what is a? Why not ela?

a is the unstressed feminine singular direct-object pronoun (“it/her”), agreeing with carteira. In careful/standard usage, use a. Ela as a direct object (ninguém viu ela) is very common in speech but informal.

Why is the pronoun before the verb (a viu) rather than after (viu-a)?

Negative/indefinite words like ninguém trigger proclisis (pronoun before the verb), so ninguém a viu is standard. Ninguém viu-a is considered incorrect. Without a trigger, Portugal favors enclisis (Ele viu-a), while Brazil prefers proclisis (Ele a viu).

Is Ninguém viu ela no elevador acceptable?

Yes in everyday Brazilian speech. For formal writing or careful speech, prefer Ninguém a viu no elevador, or just repeat the noun: Ninguém viu a carteira no elevador.

Can I just repeat the noun instead of using a pronoun?

Yes. Ninguém viu a carteira no elevador is perfectly natural and very common in Brazil, especially in speech.

Why viu and not vi?

Because the subject ninguém is third person singular. Preterite of ver: eu vi, ele/ela/você viu, nós vimos, eles/elas/vocês viram.

What does no in no elevador stand for?

It’s the contraction em + o = no, meaning in/on the. With feminine nouns: em + a = na (e.g., na escada).

Where can I place no elevador?

All of these work:

Ninguém a viu no elevador. (neutral, most common)
No elevador, ninguém a viu. (fronted for topic/emphasis)
Ninguém, no elevador, a viu. (parenthetical; formal)

Can I use lhe here (ninguém lhe viu)?

No. Lhe is for indirect objects (to/for someone). Ver takes a direct object, so use a/o or the noun: Ninguém a viu / Ninguém viu a carteira.

Any key Brazil–Portugal differences in this sentence?

Possessives: Portugal typically uses the article (Perdi a minha carteira); Brazil often omits it (Perdi minha carteira).
Clitics: Portugal uses enclisis more where allowed (ele viu-a); Brazil strongly prefers proclisis (ele a viu). With ninguém, both say ninguém a viu.
Vocabulary: both use elevador; Portugal also has ascensor.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts (Brazilian Portuguese)?

Approximate guides:

perdi: per-JEE (d before i often sounds like j)
carteira: car-TAY-rah (tapped r in the middle)
ninguém: neen-GENG (final syllable nasal)
viu: vyoo
elevador: eh-leh-vah-DOR (final r varies by region, often a soft h)