Breakdown of Hoje eu preciso de soletrar o meu apelido, porque as pessoas podem confundi-lo.
eu
I
hoje
today
meu
my
precisar de
to need
porque
because
poder
to be able to
a pessoa
the person
soletrar
to spell
o apelido
the last name
confundir
to confuse
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Portuguese grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Hoje eu preciso de soletrar o meu apelido, porque as pessoas podem confundi-lo.
What does soletrar mean in this sentence?
It means "to spell." In this context, the speaker is saying they need to spell out their surname to avoid confusion.
Why is the preposition de used after preciso? Can I just say preciso soletrar?
In European Portuguese, it is common to use precisar de followed by an infinitive to indicate necessity. Thus, preciso de soletrar is the standard structure meaning "I need to spell." While some varieties of Portuguese might drop the de informally, in Portugal this construction is grammatically preferred.
How does the pronoun get attached in confundi-lo and why is there a hyphen?
Portuguese often attaches object pronouns to the verb (a process called enclisis). In confundi-lo, the pronoun o (referring to o meu apelido) is attached to the infinitive confundir with a hyphen to ensure a smooth transition between the elements. The inserted l makes the combination easier to pronounce.
Why is apelido used in this sentence, and does it mean the same as nickname?
In European Portuguese, apelido usually means "surname" or "family name" rather than "nickname." Although in Brazilian Portuguese apelido often refers to a nickname, in Portugal it traditionally denotes one's last name.
Why is the definite article o used before meu apelido?
In European Portuguese, it is common to include the definite article before possessive adjectives when referring to a noun. Thus, o meu apelido literally means "my surname," with the article adding clarity and formality to the expression.