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A rua principal fica perigosa devido ao nevoeiro.

A rua principal fica perigosa devido ao nevoeiro.
The main street becomes dangerous due to the fog.
FromLesson 25inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)
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Breakdown of A rua principal fica perigosa devido ao nevoeiro.

perigoso
dangerous
ficar
to become
a rua
the street
principal
main
devido a
due to
o nevoeiro
the fog

Questions & Answers about A rua principal fica perigosa devido ao nevoeiro.

What does fica mean in this context?
Here, fica is the 3rd person singular of ficar, which can mean to become, to stay, or to be located. In a rua principal fica perigosa, it expresses a change of state: the main street becomes dangerous. Context tells you it’s describing a temporary or situational quality.
Why is it devido ao nevoeiro and not just devido nevoeiro?

The phrase devido a (“due to”) must be followed by an article plus noun. You need:

  • a (preposition) + o (definite article, masculine) → ao
  • nevoeiro (noun)

So devido a + o nevoeiro = devido ao nevoeiro. Omitting the article (the “o”) would be ungrammatical.

Can I say por causa do nevoeiro instead of devido ao nevoeiro?

Yes. por causa de (“because of”) is more common in speech and less formal:

  • A rua principal fica perigosa por causa do nevoeiro.

Both mean roughly the same, though devido a sounds slightly more formal or literary.

Why is principal placed after rua and not before, like in English?

In Portuguese, most descriptive adjectives follow the noun:

  • noun + adjective → rua principal

Putting principal before (e.g. a principal rua) is possible for emphasis or stylistic reasons, but the normal order is after.

Could I start the sentence with Devido ao nevoeiro? Would that change the meaning?

Yes, you can front the phrase for emphasis:

  • Devido ao nevoeiro, a rua principal fica perigosa.

Meaning stays the same; starting with the cause shifts focus onto the fog first.

What’s the difference between nevoeiro, névoa, and bruma?

They all refer to fog/mist but vary in intensity and register:

  • nevoeiro: dense fog near the ground, common everyday term.
  • névoa: lighter mist or haze.
  • bruma: poetic or old-fashioned term, often for sea mist or general haze.
How does adjective agreement work with perigosa?

Adjectives in Portuguese agree in gender and number with the noun:

  • rua is feminine singular → perigosa (feminine singular)
  • For a masculine noun: perigoso
  • For plural: add s → ruas perigosas
Why isn’t there a comma before devido ao nevoeiro?
Short adverbial phrases at the end typically don’t need commas in Portuguese. Commas are used for long or parenthetical additions. Here devido ao nevoeiro is a concise complement, so no comma is required.

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