Breakdown of Eu deixo a minha roupa na lavandaria antes do fim de semana.
eu
I
minha
my
em
in
antes de
before
a roupa
the clothes
o fim de semana
the weekend
deixar
to leave
a lavandaria
the laundry
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Questions & Answers about Eu deixo a minha roupa na lavandaria antes do fim de semana.
What does deixo mean, and which tense is it?
Deixo is the first person singular of deixar, meaning “I leave” or “I drop off.” It’s in the presente do indicativo.
Why is a minha roupa used instead of just minha roupa?
In European Portuguese it’s common to include the definite article before a possessive. So you say a minha roupa rather than minha roupa.
Why is roupa singular here? Why not roupas?
Portuguese often uses the singular roupa in a collective sense when talking about laundry or clothing in general.
What exactly is a lavandaria?
In Portugal, a lavandaria refers to either a laundromat (self-service) or a laundry service/dry cleaner where you drop off clothes to be washed.
Why do we say na lavandaria and not a lavandaria or à lavandaria?
Na is the contraction of em + a. You need em because you’re placing something “in/at” the laundry, so em + a = na.
What does antes do fim de semana mean, and why is do used?
It means “before the weekend.” Do is the contraction of de + o, so antes de + o fim de semana = antes do fim de semana.
Is the word order flexible? Could I say “Antes do fim de semana deixo a minha roupa na lavandaria”?
Yes, you can move time expressions to the beginning for emphasis:
Antes do fim de semana, deixo a minha roupa na lavandaria.
Why use the present tense instead of a future tense for a future action?
Portuguese often uses the presente do indicativo to talk about scheduled or near-future actions, just like in English “I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Can you omit Eu at the start?
Yes. Since deixo already marks 1st person singular, dropping Eu is natural:
Deixo a minha roupa na lavandaria antes do fim de semana.