Breakdown of Este queijo é oriundo de uma região montanhosa e tem um sabor único.
ser
to be
um
a
de
of
ter
to have
e
and
este
this
uma
a
o queijo
the cheese
oriundo
originally
a região
the region
montanhoso
mountainous
o sabor
the flavor
único
unique
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Questions & Answers about Este queijo é oriundo de uma região montanhosa e tem um sabor único.
What does oriundo mean in this sentence?
Oriundo means that something originates from a specific place. In this sentence, it tells us that the cheese comes from a particular area—in this case, a mountainous region. It is a formal way of saying "comes from" or "originates from."
What is the role of este in the sentence?
Este is a demonstrative adjective meaning "this." It is used to specify or point out the particular cheese being discussed, indicating that it is close in context or has already been identified.
Why is the adjective montanhosa placed after the noun região, and how does adjective placement work in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, adjectives that describe inherent qualities or physical characteristics are commonly placed after the noun. Thus, região montanhosa translates to "mountainous region." Although English often places adjectives before the noun ("mountainous region"), Portuguese typically follows the post-nominal order for such descriptive adjectives.
How do adjectives agree with the nouns in this sentence regarding gender and number?
Portuguese adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. In this sentence, queijo is masculine singular, so any adjective describing it would also be in the masculine singular form. Similarly, região is feminine singular, and the adjective montanhosa is correctly in its feminine form. Likewise, sabor is masculine singular, matching with único.
What does único mean in this context, and how is it similar to "unique" in English?
Único means "unique," indicating that the cheese has a one-of-a-kind flavor. It serves the same communicative function as "unique" in English by highlighting the distinctive and special quality of the cheese's taste.
Why might a native speaker choose oriundo over a less formal alternative like vindo de?
A native speaker might choose oriundo because it has a more formal and refined tone, often used in descriptive or written contexts. While vindo de also means "coming from," it is more colloquial. Using oriundo adds elegance and a sense of tradition to the description.
How does tem um sabor único convey the idea of "has a unique flavor" in Portuguese?
The phrase tem um sabor único is structured as follows: tem means "has," um sabor translates to "a flavor," and único means "unique." Together, they clearly express that the cheese possesses a distinctive, unparalleled taste.