Breakdown of A voz dele rompeu o silêncio da sala.
de
of
dele
his
a sala
the room
o silêncio
the silence
a voz
the voice
romper
to break
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Questions & Answers about A voz dele rompeu o silêncio da sala.
Why is the feminine article a used before voz?
Because voz is a feminine noun in Portuguese. Feminine singular nouns take a (or uma in the indefinite), so a voz means “the voice.”
Why is dele used for “his” instead of seu?
In European Portuguese, seu/sua can refer to “his,” “her,” or “their,” which can be ambiguous. Using dele (“of him”) makes it clear you mean “his.” So a voz dele literally means “the voice of him.”
What is rompeu, and what tense does it represent?
Rompeu is the third person singular of the verb romper in the pretérito perfeito (simple past). It describes a completed action in the past: “(he) broke” or “(it) broke through.”
What does rompeu convey here—does it just mean “broke”?
Literally, rompeu means “broke,” but idiomatically it suggests something forcefully cutting through or interrupting a space. So rompeu o silêncio means “broke through the silence,” giving a vivid image of the voice shattering the quiet.
Why is there no preposition between rompeu and o silêncio?
Romper is a transitive verb when talking about breaking something, so it takes a direct object without a preposition. You simply say romper o silêncio (“to break the silence”).
Why is o used before silêncio?
In Portuguese, definite articles are often used before abstract nouns. Silêncio is masculine, so it takes o silêncio (“the silence”).
What is the contraction da in da sala?
Da is the contraction of the preposition de plus the feminine singular definite article a. So da sala means “of the room” or “from the room.”
Could you use quebrar instead of romper here, as in quebrou o silêncio da sala?
Yes, you could. Quebrar o silêncio is understood and used, but romper o silêncio is slightly more formal or literary. Both verbs convey the idea of interrupting or shattering the silence.