O aspirador faz mais barulho do que o rodo, mas tira melhor a sujeira.

Questions & Answers about O aspirador faz mais barulho do que o rodo, mas tira melhor a sujeira.

What exactly does rodo mean in Brazilian Portuguese?

In Brazil, rodo usually means a floor squeegee: a tool with a rubber blade used to push water or dirt across the floor. It is very common in Brazilian homes.

So o rodo is not a vacuum, broom, or mop. It is specifically that rubber-bladed cleaning tool.


Why does Portuguese say faz mais barulho instead of something like é mais barulhento?

Fazer barulho is a very common expression in Portuguese and means to make noise.

  • O aspirador faz barulho = The vacuum makes noise.
  • O aspirador faz mais barulho = The vacuum makes more noise.

You can say é mais barulhento (is noisier), but faz mais barulho is extremely natural and common in everyday speech.


Why is it mais barulho and not mais barulhos?

Because barulho here works like an uncountable idea, similar to noise in English.

  • faz barulho = makes noise
  • faz mais barulho = makes more noise

Portuguese usually keeps barulho singular in this kind of expression.


Why is the comparison mais ... do que?

In Portuguese, one very common way to make comparisons is:

So:

  • mais barulho do que o rodo = more noise than the squeegee

You may also hear mais ... que in many contexts, but mais ... do que is very standard and clear.


Why is there o before both aspirador and rodo?

Portuguese often uses the definite article where English might not focus on it as much.

  • o aspirador = the vacuum cleaner
  • o rodo = the squeegee

This sentence is talking about those items as categories or familiar household objects, so using o sounds natural.


Does aspirador by itself mean vacuum cleaner?

Yes, in Brazil aspirador often means vacuum cleaner, especially when the context is cleaning.

You may also hear:

  • aspirador de pó = vacuum cleaner

Literally, that is dust vacuum. In everyday speech, people often shorten it to just aspirador.


Why does the second part say tira melhor a sujeira? What does tirar mean here?

Tirar has many meanings, including to remove, to take out, or to get rid of.

Here:

  • tirar a sujeira = to remove the dirt

So tira melhor a sujeira means the vacuum removes the dirt better.

This is a very natural use of tirar in cleaning contexts.


Why is it tira melhor and not melhor tira?

Because melhor here is acting like an adverb, meaning better. It modifies the verb tira.

So:

  • tira melhor = removes better

This is similar to English word order:

  • cleans better
  • removes better

Putting melhor after the verb is the normal choice here.


Why is it a sujeira and not just sujeira?

Both can exist, but a sujeira sounds more specific and complete here.

  • tirar a sujeira = remove the dirt
  • tirar sujeira = remove dirt

Using a often makes the phrase feel more definite or concrete, as if referring to the dirt present on the floor or surface.

In everyday Portuguese, tirar a sujeira is very natural.


Is the subject repeated in the second clause?

No. In mas tira melhor a sujeira, the subject is omitted because it is understood to be the same as before: o aspirador.

So the full idea is:

  • O aspirador faz mais barulho do que o rodo, mas (o aspirador) tira melhor a sujeira.

Portuguese often leaves out the subject when it is obvious from context.


Could this sentence use limpa melhor instead of tira melhor a sujeira?

Yes. Limpa melhor would also be very natural.

Compare:

  • tira melhor a sujeira = removes the dirt better
  • limpa melhor = cleans better

The version with tirar focuses more on removing the dirt, while limpar focuses more generally on cleaning.


How is sujeira different from sujo?

They are different parts of speech:

  • sujeira = dirt, filth, mess
  • sujo / suja = dirty

Examples:

  • Tem sujeira no chão. = There is dirt on the floor.
  • O chão está sujo. = The floor is dirty.

In your sentence, a sujeira is a noun: the dirt.


How would a Brazilian normally pronounce some of the trickier words here?

Approximate pronunciations:

  • aspirador → ah-spee-rah-DOR
  • barulho → bah-RU-lyoo
  • sujeira → soo-ZHAY-rah
  • rodo → HO-doo in many Brazilian accents, because initial r is often pronounced like an English h

A few pronunciation notes:

  • In many Brazilian accents, r at the start of a word is stronger, often like h in English.
  • The lh in barulho is like the lli in million, though not exactly the same.
  • The j in sujeira sounds like the s in measure.

Is this sentence natural in Brazilian Portuguese?

Yes, it is understandable and natural enough. A Brazilian would understand it immediately.

That said, some people might more naturally say:

  • O aspirador faz mais barulho do que o rodo, mas limpa melhor.
  • O aspirador faz mais barulho, mas tira a sujeira melhor do que o rodo.

Your original sentence is still fine; these are just slightly different ways a native speaker might phrase the same idea.

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