Protegemos a natureza.

Protegemos is the 1st person plural form of the verb proteger (to protect). It corresponds to we protect in this sentence.

So the structure is:

• protegemos = we protect
• a natureza = nature / the nature

Because Portuguese verb endings often show the subject clearly, the subject we is built into the verb form.

Portuguese often drops the subject pronoun when the verb ending already makes the subject clear. This is very common in European Portuguese.

So:

• Protegemos a natureza. = We protect nature.
• Nós protegemos a natureza. = also correct, but nós is usually added only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

• Nós protegemos a natureza, mas eles não.
  We protect nature, but they don’t.

Here, a is the definite article meaning the.

Portuguese often uses the definite article where English would not. With general ideas or whole categories, Portuguese frequently prefers the article.

So:

• a natureza = literally the nature
• but in natural English, this is usually just nature

That is why Protegemos a natureza is translated as We protect nature, not necessarily We protect the nature.

In Portuguese, every noun has a grammatical gender, usually masculine or feminine. Natureza is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine singular article a.

• a natureza
• not o natureza

This is grammatical gender, not biological sex. Many abstract nouns are simply assigned a gender as part of the language.

Yes, it can be understood as the present tense: we protect.

However, there is an important detail: protegemos can also be the preterite form (we protected). For this verb, the nós form is spelled the same in both tenses.

So protegemos can mean:

• we protect
• we protected

Usually, the meaning is clear from context. On its own, this sentence is most naturally read as a general present statement.

The infinitive is proteger, which means to protect.

It belongs to the -er verb group.

A few useful forms are:

• eu protejo = I protect
• tu proteges = you protect
• ele/ela protege = he/she protects
• nós protegemos = we protect
• vocês protegem = you protect
• eles/elas protegem = they protect

Yes, but this sentence uses the normal, neutral word order in Portuguese:

• Verb + object
• Protegemos a natureza

This is very natural because the subject we is understood from the verb.

You could also say:

• Nós protegemos a natureza.

That is also normal, but slightly more explicit.

A different order is possible in special contexts, but the sentence as given is the most straightforward and natural one.

In most normal contexts, a natureza is the natural choice. Leaving out the article would usually sound less standard or less natural.

So:

• Protegemos a natureza. = normal
• Protegemos natureza. = unusual in ordinary standard usage

Portuguese generally likes the article here, especially when speaking about nature as a broad concept.

In European Portuguese, it is approximately:

• pro-te-JEH-moosh a na-tu-REH-zuh

A more IPA-style version is roughly:

• [pɾu.tɨˈʒe.muʃ ɐ nɐ.tuˈɾe.zɐ]

A few pronunciation notes:

• g in protegemos sounds like the s in measure
• the final -s in protegemos sounds like sh in European Portuguese
• unstressed vowels are often reduced, especially in European Portuguese

It is most naturally understood as a general statement or broad claim:

• We protect nature

It does not usually refer to one particular act in one particular moment. Instead, it sounds like:

• a principle
• a mission statement
• a value
• a habitual action

For example, it would fit well in environmental campaigns, school materials, or organizational slogans.

A natureza is the direct object of the verb protegemos.

It is the thing receiving the action of the verb:

• we protect → what?
• a natureza

So the structure is:

• Protegemos = verb
• a natureza = direct object

This is a very common Portuguese sentence pattern.