Log inSign up

Ele repara que o café está frio.

Ele repara que o café está frio.
He notices that the coffee is cold.
FromLesson 7inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Ele repara que o café está frio.

o café
the coffee
ele
he
estar
to be
frio
cold
que
that
reparar
to notice

Questions & Answers about Ele repara que o café está frio.

What does repara mean in this sentence, and why might it be confusing for English speakers?
In this context, repara means "notices" or "observes." Although it looks similar to the English word "repair," it does not mean "to fix" something. This is a typical example of a false friend that can cause confusion when learning Portuguese.
Why is the conjunction que used in this sentence?
The conjunction que introduces the subordinate clause that explains what is being noticed. It connects the main clause (Ele repara) with the detail (o café está frio), meaning "that the coffee is cold."
What role does the verb está play in o café está frio?
The verb está is the present form of estar, which is used to describe temporary states or conditions. Here, it indicates that the coffee is currently cold, emphasizing that this is a state-of-affairs at the moment of observation.
How does the gender of café affect the rest of the sentence?
Café is a masculine noun, which is why it is preceded by the masculine article o. Additionally, the adjective frio is in the masculine form to agree with café, ensuring gender agreement throughout the sentence.
How is the sentence structured, and is this construction common in European Portuguese?
Yes, this construction is very common in European Portuguese. The sentence has a main clause (Ele repara) followed by a subordinate clause introduced by que (o café está frio). This structure is used to connect an observer's action (noticing) with the specific detail or fact observed, creating a clear and logical sentence flow.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Portuguese

Master Portuguese — from Ele repara que o café está frio to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Portuguese freeBrowse the full course