Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): O meu prédio tem uma varanda grande com muita luz. - My building has a big balcony with lots of light.

In European Portuguese, it’s customary to use the definite article (o, a, os, as) before a possessive adjective. So you say O meu prédio (literally “the my building”), whereas in English you say “my building” without an article.

What’s the difference between prédio and edifício?

Both words mean “building,” but prédio is more colloquial and usually refers to residential or office blocks (e.g. an apartment building). Edifício is more general/formal and can apply to any structure (a school building, a hospital, etc.). In everyday speech in Portugal, prédio is very common for blocks of flats.

Why is tem used here instead of há?

Tem (from ter, “to have”) expresses possession or attributes (“has”). Há (from haver) expresses existence (“there is/there are”). You use O meu prédio tem to say “my building has,” whereas há um prédio would mean “there is a building.”

Why do we use uma varanda grande instead of a varanda grande?

Uma is the indefinite article (“a/an”) and introduces the balcony as a feature you’re describing for the first time. If you said a varanda grande, you’d be referring to a specific balcony already known in the conversation. Both are grammatically correct, but uma is more natural when listing features.

Why does grande come after varanda?

In Portuguese, most adjectives follow the noun: varanda grande (literally “balcony big”). You can place an adjective before the noun (uma grande varanda) for emphasis or stylistic reasons, but the default neutral order is noun + adjective.

Why is it muita luz and not muito luz?

Adjectives and quantifiers agree in gender and number with the noun. Luz is feminine singular, so you use muita (feminine) instead of muito (masculine).

What role does com play in uma varanda grande com muita luz?

Com means “with” and links varanda grande and muita luz. It clarifies that the balcony is the thing that has a lot of light: “a large balcony with lots of light.”

Can I say O meu prédio tem uma varanda grande e muita luz without com?

You can, and you’ll be understood: “my building has a large balcony and lots of light.” But without com, it sounds like you’re listing two separate features of the building rather than describing the balcony’s characteristic.

Is varanda the same as terraço?

No. A varanda is a balcony (usually a narrow platform protruding from a wall). A terraço is generally larger, like an open rooftop or a terrace. Use terraço only for big outdoor spaces, and varanda for standard balconies.

If I want to mention my apartment instead of the building, what changes?

You’d replace prédio with apartamento:
O meu apartamento tem uma varanda grande com muita luz.
That way you’re talking about your flat’s features rather than the whole building.