O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo.

Questions & Answers about O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo.

Why is it o extrato bancário instead of um extrato bancário?

O is the definite article, meaning the. It is used when the speaker means a specific bank statement, not just any bank statement.

So:

  • o extrato bancário = the bank statement
  • um extrato bancário = a bank statement

In Portuguese, definite articles are often used a bit more naturally than in English, especially when talking about a known or relevant thing in context.


What does extrato bancário mean literally, and is it the usual term in Portugal?

Literally:

  • extrato = extract / statement
  • bancário = banking / bank-related

Together, extrato bancário means bank statement.

In Portugal, this is a normal and widely understood term. You may also come across the older spelling extracto bancário, especially in older materials or older banking documents. Under current spelling rules, extrato is standard.


Why does bancário come after extrato?

In Portuguese, adjectives often come after the noun.

So:

  • extrato bancário = bank statement
  • literally, something like statement banking-related

This is very normal in Portuguese. English often puts the describing word before the noun, but Portuguese commonly puts it after.

Also, bancário agrees with extrato:

  • extrato is masculine singular
  • bancário is therefore also masculine singular

Why is there an accent in bancário?

The accent mark shows the stressed syllable:

  • ban-CÁ-rio

Without the accent, a learner might not know where the stress goes. In Portuguese, written accents often help with pronunciation and stress.

So the word is pronounced roughly like:


Why is the verb mostra and not mostrar?

Mostrar is the infinitive, meaning to show.

In the sentence, you need the verb conjugated to match the subject:

  • o extrato bancário = the bank statement
    this is third person singular

So:

  • mostrar = to show
  • mostra = shows

This is the present tense form.

A quick mini-conjugation:

  • eu mostro = I show
  • tu mostras = you show
  • ele/ela mostra = he/she/it shows
  • o extrato mostra = the statement shows

Why is it cada encargo and not cada encargos?

Because cada is followed by a singular noun.

So:

  • cada encargo = each charge
  • not cada encargos

This is similar to English, where we say each charge, not each charges.

Examples:

  • cada dia = each day
  • cada pessoa = each person
  • cada encargo = each charge / each fee

What exactly does encargo mean here?

In this context, encargo usually means something like:

  • charge
  • fee
  • cost
  • financial obligation

In banking or financial language, it often refers to amounts charged to the account, such as fees or other imposed costs.

It is a slightly more formal word than some everyday alternatives. Depending on context, Portuguese might also use words like:

  • taxa = fee/rate
  • comissão = commission/bank fee
  • custo = cost

But encargo works well when referring to charges or liabilities in a general financial sense.


Does cada encargo mean the same as todos os encargos?

Not exactly.

  • cada encargo = each charge
  • todos os encargos = all the charges

The difference is one of perspective:

  • cada encargo focuses on the items individually
  • todos os encargos refers to the whole set collectively

So:

  • O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo.
    = The bank statement shows each charge.

  • O extrato bancário mostra todos os encargos.
    = The bank statement shows all the charges.

Both are possible, but they are not identical in nuance.


Is encargo masculine? How can I tell?

Yes, encargo is masculine.

You can tell from:

  • the ending is often a clue: many nouns ending in -o are masculine
  • here, if you used an article, it would be o encargo

Examples:

  • o encargo
  • os encargos

That is why, if you added an adjective, it would also normally be masculine:

  • o encargo adicional = the additional charge

As always, there are exceptions in Portuguese, but encargo is a regular masculine noun.


How is the whole sentence pronounced in European Portuguese?

A careful pronunciation would be approximately:

O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo.

IPA: u ɨʃˈtɾatu bɐ̃ˈka.ɾju ˈmɔʃtɾɐ ˈka.dɐ ĩˈkaɾ.gu

A rough English-style guide:

  • u esh-TRAH-tu ban-KAH-ryoo MOSH-truh KAH-duh en-KAR-goo

A few European Portuguese points:

  • o often sounds like u
  • ex- in extrato often sounds closer to esh-
  • mostra often has a sh-like sound in mosh-tra
  • unstressed vowels are often reduced, much more than in many Brazilian pronunciations

Can I leave out o and just say Extrato bancário mostra cada encargo?

Normally, no. In a full sentence, you would usually need the article:

  • O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo.

Leaving out the article sounds unnatural here.

Portuguese uses articles with nouns more regularly than English does. A missing article can make the sentence sound incomplete, headline-like, or non-native.

You might see article omission in:

  • headings
  • labels
  • note-style writing

But in normal sentence usage, o is the natural choice.


Could I also say O extrato mostra cada encargo?

Yes, absolutely, if the context already makes it clear that you are talking about a bank statement.

  • O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo. = more explicit
  • O extrato mostra cada encargo. = shorter, but still natural in the right context

Portuguese often drops extra detail when it is already understood.


Is the word order flexible here?

The given order is the most natural and neutral one:

  • O extrato bancário mostra cada encargo.

Portuguese does allow some flexibility, but changing the order usually changes the emphasis or style.

For example:

  • Cada encargo é mostrado no extrato bancário.
    = Each charge is shown on the bank statement.
    This is more passive and less direct.

  • É o extrato bancário que mostra cada encargo.
    = It is the bank statement that shows each charge.
    This adds emphasis.

For ordinary usage, the original sentence is the best choice.

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