Breakdown of A escova de dentes está no banheiro, perto do espelho.
Questions & Answers about A escova de dentes está no banheiro, perto do espelho.
Because escova is a feminine noun in Portuguese.
- a escova = the brush
- uma escova = a brush
The article has to match the noun’s gender, so you say a escova.
Also, the gender of the whole phrase is determined by escova, not by dentes. So even though dentes is masculine plural, the full noun phrase is still a escova de dentes.
Because that is the normal expression for toothbrush in Portuguese.
Literally, it is something like brush for teeth or brush of teeth, and the plural dentes is natural because a toothbrush is used for your teeth in general, not just one tooth.
So:
- escova de dentes = toothbrush
- not usually escova de dente
This is just the standard way to say it.
You might be understood, but escova de dentes is the everyday, normal expression in Brazilian Portuguese.
Escova dental sounds more technical, commercial, or label-like. In normal conversation, Brazilians usually say escova de dentes.
So for a learner, escova de dentes is the best choice.
Because Portuguese normally uses estar for the location of people and things.
- A escova de dentes está no banheiro. = The toothbrush is in the bathroom.
- Isto é uma escova de dentes. = This is a toothbrush.
Use ser for identity, definition, and permanent-type descriptions. Use estar for location and many temporary states.
So here, since the sentence tells you where the toothbrush is, está is the correct verb.
No is a contraction of:
- em = in / on / at
- o = the
So:
- em + o = no
That means:
- no banheiro = in the bathroom
This happens very often in Portuguese:
- na = em + a
- nos = em + os
- nas = em + as
Examples:
- na cozinha = in the kitchen
- nos armários = in the cabinets
Because perto normally uses the preposition de.
So the structure is:
- perto de = near
Then de combines with o:
- de + o = do
So:
- perto do espelho = near the mirror
Other examples:
- perto da porta = near the door
- perto dos livros = near the books
So the important pattern is perto de + noun.
Portuguese uses definite articles more often than English.
In this sentence, the speaker is referring to specific, known things:
- a escova de dentes = the toothbrush
- no banheiro = in the bathroom
- do espelho = of the mirror / near the mirror
In English, articles are sometimes dropped where Portuguese still keeps them, but in Portuguese they sound natural and are usually required.
If you changed the article, the meaning would also change:
- perto do espelho = near the mirror
- perto de um espelho = near a mirror
So the articles help show that these are specific objects or places.
Yes. Banheiro is the normal everyday word in Brazilian Portuguese.
It can mean:
- bathroom
- restroom
- sometimes toilet, depending on context
In Brazil, this is the most common word you should learn.
A useful note:
- In European Portuguese, people often say casa de banho instead.
So if you are learning Brazilian Portuguese, banheiro is exactly the right word.
A rough pronunciation in many Brazilian accents is:
ah es-KOH-vah djee DEN-tchees es-TAH noo ban-YEH-roo, PER-too doo ees-PEH-lyoo
A few helpful notes:
- de often sounds like djee in many Brazilian accents
- dentes often sounds roughly like DEN-tchees
- banheiro has the nh sound, like the ny in canyon
- espelho has lh, a sound somewhat like ly
Pronunciation varies by region, so this is only an approximation, but it is close enough to help you say the sentence.
Not necessarily. The sentence works with or without the comma.
- A escova de dentes está no banheiro, perto do espelho.
- A escova de dentes está no banheiro perto do espelho.
The comma just adds a small pause and separates the more general location from the more specific one.
With the comma, it can sound a little clearer:
- general place: no banheiro
- more exact place: perto do espelho
Without the comma, it is still perfectly understandable and natural.