Breakdown of Vou aquecer a sopa no micro-ondas.
ir
to go
em
in
a sopa
the soup
aquecer
to heat
o micro-ondas
the microwave
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Questions & Answers about Vou aquecer a sopa no micro-ondas.
What tense/construction is vou aquecer, and why is it used?
It’s the periphrastic future: ir (to go) in the present (here, vou) + infinitive (aquecer). In European Portuguese this is the most common way to express a near future or an intention, like English “I’m going to heat (up) …”. You could also say irei aquecer or the synthetic future aquecerei, but those are less common in everyday speech.
Do I need to say eu (Eu vou aquecer…)?
No. Subject pronouns are usually dropped because the verb ending already shows the person. Vou aquecer… is natural. Use Eu vou… only for emphasis (e.g., contrasting with someone else).
Could I use the present tense instead, like Aqueço a sopa no micro-ondas?
Yes, but it changes the nuance. Aqueço a sopa no micro-ondas usually describes a habit (“I heat my soup in the microwave”). To express an immediate plan, Vou aquecer… is the default. The present can imply near future if you add a time word: Logo aqueço a sopa (“I’ll heat the soup shortly”).
Why is it a sopa and not just sopa or uma sopa?
- a sopa = “the soup” (a specific soup already known in the context). This is the most natural here.
- uma sopa = “a soup”/“one soup” (less common unless you really mean “a bowl/can of soup”).
- Bare sopa (no article) is rare in European Portuguese in this context; it would sound telegraphic or generic.
What does no mean in no micro-ondas?
no is the contraction of em + o (“in/on the,” masculine). So no micro-ondas = “in the microwave.” Other forms: na (em + a), nos (em + os), nas (em + as).
Why not ao micro-ondas?
ao = a + o (“to the”). Here we need location/instrument (“in the”), so em + o → no is correct. ao micro-ondas would be wrong in this sentence.
Is micro-ondas masculine or feminine, and why does it end in -s?
It’s masculine: o micro-ondas. The -s comes from ondas (“waves”). The appliance name is traditionally plural in form but used as a singular noun:
- singular: o micro-ondas
- plural: os micro-ondas (the word itself doesn’t change form)
Do I need the hyphen in micro-ondas?
Yes. The standard spelling in Portugal (and Brazil) is micro-ondas with a hyphen. You may see microondas informally online, but stick with the hyphen in correct writing.
Can I use esquentar instead of aquecer?
In Portugal, aquecer is the neutral, most common verb for heating food. esquentar exists and is understood, but it’s more characteristic of Brazilian Portuguese in this sense. In European Portuguese, esquentar appears in some fixed expressions (e.g., esquentar a cabeça = “to get worked up”).
How would I say “I’m going to heat it up (the soup) in the microwave”?
Use a clitic pronoun for “it” (feminine, because sopa is feminine):
- Vou aquecê-la no micro-ondas.
When attaching -la to an infinitive ending in -r, the -r drops and the preceding vowel is accented: aquecer + a → aquecê-la.
With the present tense: Aqueço-a no micro-ondas.
How do I make the sentence negative?
Put não before the conjugated verb:
- Não vou aquecer a sopa no micro-ondas.
With a clitic pronoun, European Portuguese allows either: - Não a vou aquecer no micro-ondas.
- Não vou aquecê-la no micro-ondas.
How do I pronounce the whole sentence?
Approximate European Portuguese:
- IPA: [vo ɐkɨˈseɾ ɐ ˈsopɐ nu mikruˈõdɐʃ]
- Rough guide: “voo uh-kee-SEHR uh SOH-puh noo MEE-kroo OHN-dush”
Notes: final -r in aquecer is a soft tap when followed by a vowel (linking to a), sopa ends with a schwa-like sound, and -s at the end of micro-ondas sounds like “sh.”
Could I just say no micro instead of no micro-ondas?
Yes, informally people do say no micro in Portugal. It’s casual speech; in writing or neutral speech, use the full no micro-ondas.
If I mean “reheat,” is aquecer still okay?
Yes. aquecer covers both “heat” and “reheat” in everyday speech. If you want to be explicit:
- voltar a aquecer / aquecer de novo = reheat
- requentar can also mean reheat (often for leftovers), sometimes with a “leftovers” nuance.
Any quick alternatives to the microwave phrase for other appliances?
Yes, swap the instrument:
- Vou aquecer a sopa no fogão. (on the stove)
- Vou aquecer a sopa no forno. (in the oven)
- Vou aquecer a sopa no tacho. (in the pot; implies on the stove)