A falta de energia elétrica começou à noite.

The electricity outage started at night.

Breakdown of A falta de energia elétrica começou à noite.

• começar: to start
• à noite: at night
• a falta de energia elétrica: the electricity outage

Questions & Answers about A falta de energia elétrica começou à noite.

Why is it a falta de and not just falta de?

Both are possible, but a falta de is more specific and natural here.

• falta de energia elétrica = lack of electrical power / power outage in a general sense
• a falta de energia elétrica = the power outage / the lack of electrical power in this particular situation

Portuguese often uses the definite article more than English does, especially when talking about something understood in context.

What exactly does falta mean here?

Here, falta means absence, lack, or shortage.

In this sentence, falta de energia elétrica is a common way to say power outage or loss of electrical power.

Other possible words in related contexts are:

• apagão = blackout
• queda de energia = power failure / power cut
• interrupção no fornecimento de energia = interruption in the power supply

But falta de energia elétrica is very common and neutral.

Why do we say energia elétrica instead of just energia?