Eu bebo água.

I drink water.

Breakdown of Eu bebo água.

• eu: I
• beber: to drink
• a água: the water

Questions & Answers about Eu bebo água.

Why does the verb bebo mean both “I drink” and “I am drinking”?

In Portuguese, a single present tense form bebo can translate into either “I drink” or “I am drinking” in English. The language doesn’t distinguish between simple present and present continuous the way English does, so context usually clarifies whether it’s a general or immediate action.

Do I always need to use Eu at the beginning, or can I just say Bebo água?

Portuguese verbs are conjugated differently depending on the subject, so saying Bebo água still makes sense because bebo clearly refers to “I.” However, many Portuguese speakers include Eu for emphasis or clarity. Both forms are correct.

How do I pronounce água in European Portuguese?

In European Portuguese, água is pronounced roughly like “AH-gwa.” The á is open, with a clear "ah" sound, and the gu is slightly softer than the English “gw,” but still quite similar. Focus on making the first syllable a bit longer and stressed.

Why does água have an accent mark?

The accent indicates the stressed vowel in the word. In água, the stress falls on the first syllable á. Without the accent, it might be pronounced or interpreted differently, so the accent helps maintain proper pronunciation.

What are the different forms of the verb beber in the present tense?

For European Portuguese in the present indicative:
• Eu bebo (I drink)
• Tu bebes (You drink - informal)
• Ele/Ela/Você bebe (He/She/You drink)
• Nós bebemos (We drink)
• Eles/Elas/Vocês bebem (They/You all drink)
Each form changes according to the subject pronoun.