Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Felizmente, a sopa ainda está quente, porque eu gosto de comer sem esperar. - Fortunately, the soup is still hot, because I like to eat without waiting.

Felizmente translates to “fortunately” and functions as an adverb. It sets the tone at the beginning of the sentence by expressing the speaker’s relief or positive sentiment that the soup is still hot.

Why is the definite article a used before sopa?

In Portuguese every noun has a gender, and sopa (soup) is feminine. Therefore, it is preceded by the feminine definite article a, which is equivalent to “the” in English.

What is the role of ainda in this sentence?

Ainda means “still.” It emphasizes that the soup remains hot at this moment, indicating that the condition has continued unchanged.

Why is there a comma after Felizmente?

A comma is used after introductory adverbs or expressions like Felizmente to separate them from the main clause. This punctuation mark indicates a brief pause and improves sentence clarity.

Why must the preposition de appear after gosto in eu gosto de comer?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar (to like) is typically followed by the preposition de before an infinitive. Thus, eu gosto de comer is the correct form for “I like to eat.”

What does the expression sem esperar mean, and how is it structured?

Sem esperar translates to “without waiting.” It combines the preposition sem (without) with the infinitive esperar (to wait) to describe the manner in which the action is performed—meaning the speaker eats immediately.

How is porque used in this sentence, and what should learners know about it?

Here, porque is a subordinating conjunction meaning “because.” It connects the reason (“I like to eat without waiting”) to the main clause. Learners should note that porque is written as one word when used to explain reasons, as opposed to por que which appears in questions or separate structures.