Breakdown of Nós vamos descansar na relva hoje.
hoje
today
ir
to go
nós
we
descansar
to rest
em
on
a relva
the grass
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Questions & Answers about Nós vamos descansar na relva hoje.
Why is nós used before vamos descansar? Can we omit nós?
In European Portuguese, subject pronouns like nós (we) are often dropped because the verb ending already tells you who’s acting. Saying vamos descansar is more natural in speech and understood as we’re going to rest. Adding nós is grammatically correct but adds emphasis or clarity—we, in particular, are going to rest.
Why does the sentence use vamos descansar instead of the simple future descansaremos?
Portuguese commonly expresses near-future events with the periphrastic construction ir + infinitive (just like English “going to”). Vamos descansar sounds natural for a planned action. The simple future descansaremos (we will rest) exists but is more formal or literary and less frequent in everyday speech.
Why is it vamos descansar and not vamos a descansar?
In standard Portuguese (especially in Portugal), the periphrastic future is formed by ir directly followed by the infinitive—no preposition a. So vamos descansar is correct. Adding a (as in Spanish vamos a descansar) would be a calque from Spanish and is not used in European Portuguese.
What does na in na relva stand for?
Na is the contraction of the preposition em (in/on) plus the definite article a (the). Thus na relva literally means in/on the grass.
Could I say sobre a relva or em cima da relva instead of na relva?
Technically yes—estamos sobre a relva or estamos em cima da relva both mean we’re on the grass—but they sound more formal or wordy. In everyday European Portuguese, estamos na relva is the natural, concise choice.
Why is relva used here? Is that the same as grama?
They both mean grass, but in Portugal you say relva. In Brazil, grama is the common word for a lawn or grass in general.
How do you pronounce relva in European Portuguese?
Approximate phonetic: [ˈʁɛl.vɐ]. The initial r is a guttural [ʁ], e is open [ɛ], l is a clear alveolar [l], and the final a is an unstressed schwa-like [ɐ]. So you get something like HREL-vuh.
Why is hoje placed at the end of the sentence? Can I put it at the beginning?
Portuguese allows flexible word order for adverbs like hoje (today). Starting with Hoje—Hoje vamos descansar na relva—emphasizes the time. Ending with hoje is neutral. Both positions are correct and widely used.
Could I use estamos a descansar instead of vamos descansar?
They’re different tenses. Estamos a descansar (we are resting) describes an action in progress right now. Vamos descansar (we’re going to rest) expresses an intention or plan in the near future. Use estar + a + infinitive for ongoing actions; use ir + infinitive for future plans.
What’s the difference between descansar and relaxar?
Descansar means to rest, usually implying stopping physical or mental activity to recover energy (e.g. sleep or a break). Relaxar means to relax, focusing on reducing stress or tension—being at ease without necessarily fully “resting.” You might relaxar on a sofa but descansar in a bed.