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Questions & Answers about Eu ouço o barulho da chuva.
What does ouço mean in this sentence?
Ouço is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb ouvir, which means “to hear.” In this sentence, it translates as “I hear.”
Why is there a cedilla in ouço, and how should it be pronounced?
The cedilla under the c (ç) tells you to pronounce the c as an s sound, even before the vowel o. So ouço is pronounced roughly like “oo-so” (with the s sound from the cedilla).
What does barulho mean, and why might it be used instead of another word like som?
Barulho means “noise” or “sound.” It often refers to a noticeable or sometimes disruptive sound. In this context, it conveys the idea of the rain making a distinct noise. While som also means “sound,” barulho can imply a more ambient or continual noise.
What is the function of da in da chuva?
Da is a contraction formed from de (of) and a (the), so da chuva means “of the rain.” It indicates that the noise (barulho) is coming from or associated with the rain.
Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Eu in this sentence?
No, including Eu isn’t strictly necessary because the verb form ouço already indicates that the subject is “I.” However, using Eu can add emphasis or clarity, and it is perfectly acceptable in Portuguese.
How would you change the sentence if the subject were different, for example, “we” or “they”?
To adjust the sentence for a different subject, you need to change the verb conjugation and, if necessary, the subject pronoun. For instance:
• “We hear the noise of the rain” becomes Nós ouvimos o barulho da chuva.
• “They hear the noise of the rain” becomes Eles ouvem o barulho da chuva.
Each form reflects the appropriate conjugation of ouvir for the new subject.