Tu és meu amigo.

to be

Breakdown of Tu és meu amigo.

• tu: you
• meu: my
• o amigo: the friend

Questions & Answers about Tu és meu amigo.

Why do we use tu instead of você here in European Portuguese?

In European Portuguese, tu is the informal way of saying you, used among friends and family or in casual settings. Você can sound more formal or distant. In Portugal, using tu emphasizes closeness and familiarity.

Why is it és and not estás?

És (from the verb ser) describes a permanent or defining characteristic (being a friend), while estás (from the verb estar) typically expresses more temporary states or conditions (like being tired, being busy, etc.). Saying tu és meu amigo implies a lasting bond.

What about você é? Can I say você é meu amigo instead?

Yes, you can say você é meu amigo, and it’s grammatically correct. However, in Portugal, você can sometimes sound overly formal, old-fashioned, or even slightly distant. Overall, tu és meu amigo is more common if you already have a friendly relationship.

Why is meu used instead of minha?

In Portuguese, possessive adjectives must agree in gender with the thing or person they refer to. Because amigo is masculine, we use meu. If it were amiga (a female friend), you would say minha.

Why amigo and not amiga?

Amigo refers to a male friend. Amiga refers to a female friend. If you’re talking about a specific friend and he is male, you say amigo. If the friend is female, use amiga.

Any tips on pronouncing és?

The é in és is pronounced like the e in bet, but held a bit more open. Let your tongue rest near the bottom front of the mouth. The ending s can sound slightly like sh in casual speech, especially when followed by certain sounds, so és might sometimes sound like "ésh" in fast conversation.