Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): A livraria fica na esquina da rua principal, à direita do café. - The bookshop is on the corner of the main street, to the right of the café.

In European Portuguese, ficar often means “to be located/situated.” A livraria fica… = “The bookstore is (located)…” It’s the idiomatic choice in directions or neutral descriptions of location. Está can also indicate location, but fica sounds more like a fixed location. É is not used for physical location (use it for identity or events: O concerto é no teatro).

Does livraria mean library?

No. Livraria = bookstore. Biblioteca = library. It’s a common false friend.

Why na esquina and not em a esquina?

Portuguese contracts prepositions with articles:

em + a = na (so na esquina = “at/on the corner”)
Similarly: em + o = no.

What exactly is à in à direita? Why the grave accent?

À is the contraction of the preposition a (“to/at”) + the feminine article a (“the”). The grave accent marks that contraction. À direita (de) = “to the right (of).” After à direita, you use de to introduce the reference: à direita do café.

Why do we say do café instead of de o café?

Because de + o = do (and de + a = da). Café is masculine singular, so it’s do café.

Which preposition follows à direita? Do I ever use na direita?

Use de: à direita de. With masculine nouns: à direita do café; with feminine: à direita da padaria. Na direita isn’t used for spatial relations; stick with à direita de.

Why is there a comma before à direita do café?

It separates two location phrases: a general spot (na esquina da rua principal) and an extra locator (à direita do café). The comma adds a natural pause and clarity; without it is also seen, but the comma is stylistically neat.

Why is direita feminine?

Because it’s the noun a direita (“the right-hand side”). Its counterpart is a esquerda (“the left-hand side”).

Is esquina the same as canto?

No. Esquina is a street corner (outside, where streets meet). Canto is a corner inside a room or an internal angle.

Any quick pronunciation tips (European Portuguese)?

A livraria: a lee-vra-REE-ɐ (final -a like a reduced “uh”)
fica: FEE-kɐ
na esquina: nɐ esh-KEE-nɐ (the s in esquina sounds “sh”)
da rua: dɐ HOO-ɐ (initial r in rua is a guttural sound)
principal: preen-see-PAL (final l is “dark”)
à direita: a dee-RAY-tɐ
do café: du kɐ-FÉ

Could I use ao lado do café instead of à direita do café?

You could, but it changes the meaning. Ao lado de = “next to/beside,” without specifying left or right. À direita de specifies the right-hand side.

Why isn’t rua principal capitalized?

Here it’s descriptive (“the main street”), not a proper name. If it’s the official name, capitalize: a Rua Principal.

Is this phrasing specifically European Portuguese? Any Brazilian differences?

The structure is the same in both. Differences are mainly pronunciation and one common existential pattern: in Portugal, Há uma livraria… is preferred for “There is a bookstore…,” while in Brazil Tem uma livraria… is very common.

How would I say “There is a bookstore …” instead of “The bookstore is …”?

Preferred in Portugal: Há uma livraria na esquina da rua principal, à direita do café.
Also possible: Fica uma livraria na esquina da rua principal, à direita do café.
Very common in Brazil: Tem uma livraria na esquina da rua principal, à direita do café.

Can I omit the article before café (e.g., à direita de café)?

Not with a common noun. Use the article: à direita do café. If you mean any café, say à direita de um café. With a proper name, you still keep the article that belongs to the name: à direita do Café Central.

Any accent pitfalls?

Use grave accent in à direita (it’s the contraction a + a). Don’t write a direita when you mean “to the right.”
Keep the acute accent in café; it marks the final stress.