Log inSign up

Tenho tosse desde ontem e a garganta está irritada.

Tenho tosse desde ontem e a garganta está irritada.
I’ve had a cough since yesterday and my throat is irritated.
FromLesson 34inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about Tenho tosse desde ontem e a garganta está irritada.

Why is the present tense used with desde ontem instead of something like English “have had since yesterday”?

Portuguese uses the present simple with desde + point in time to express something that started in the past and continues now.

  • Tenho tosse desde ontem. = I have a cough since yesterday (and still do). Using a past tense implies it’s over:
  • Tive tosse desde ontem até esta manhã. = I had a cough from yesterday until this morning.
Is desde de ontem correct?

No. Use desde ontem (no extra de).

  • With nouns that take an article, include it: desde o ano passado, desde a semana passada.
  • With a clause, use desde que: desde que acordei = since I woke up.
What’s the difference between desde ontem and há um dia?
  • desde ontem = since yesterday (gives a starting point).
  • há um dia = for a day (gives a duration).
    Examples:
  • Tenho tosse desde ontem.
  • Tenho tosse há um dia. You can also say: Há um dia que tenho tosse.
    In negatives: Não tenho tosse há dois dias. = I haven’t had a cough for two days.
Why is it Tenho tosse and not Tenho uma tosse?

The noun tosse (cough) is typically uncountable when you mean “a cough” as a condition, so no article: Tenho tosse.
Use uma when specifying a type:

  • Tenho uma tosse seca/persistente.
Is Estou com tosse also correct in European Portuguese?

Yes. Estou com tosse is fine and emphasizes a temporary state. In Portugal, both Tenho tosse and Estou com tosse are common; tenho is very idiomatic. Both can take time expressions:

  • Estou com tosse desde ontem.
How do I say “I’m coughing” (as an action) rather than “I have a cough”?

Use the verb tossir with the European Portuguese progressive:

  • Estou a tossir. = I’m coughing. Compare:
  • Tenho tosse. = I have a cough (a state/condition).
What’s the verb “to cough,” and what are key forms I should know?

The verb is tossir. Present tense:

  • eu tusso, tu tosses, ele/ela tosse, nós tossimos, vocês/eles/elas tossem
    Preterite (simple past):
  • eu tossi, tu tossiste, ele/ela tossiu, nós tossimos, vocês/eles/elas tossiram
    Progressive (EU PT): estar a tossir → estou a tossir.
Why is it a garganta (“the throat”) and not minha garganta (“my throat”)?

European Portuguese usually uses the definite article with body parts when it’s clear whose body part it is, often with a verb that shows possession/experience:

  • Dói-me a garganta. = My throat hurts. You can use a minha garganta for emphasis or clarity, but in neutral statements a garganta sounds natural.
Why does irritada end with -a?

Adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun. garganta is feminine singular, so the adjective is irritada.

  • a garganta irritada (fem. sg.)
  • o nariz irritado (masc. sg.)
  • as amígdalas irritadas (fem. pl.)
Can I say Tenho a garganta irritada instead of a garganta está irritada?

Yes. Both are natural:

  • Tenho a garganta irritada. (literally “I have the throat irritated”)
  • A garganta está irritada. The ter + noun + adjective pattern is very idiomatic for physical states: Tenho os olhos vermelhos.
How else can I talk about a sore/irritated throat?

Common options:

  • Tenho dor de garganta. / Tenho dores de garganta.
  • A garganta dói-me.
  • Tenho a garganta inflamada/arranhada/dorida.
  • Estou rouco/rouca. (I’m hoarse)
  • Sinto ardor na garganta.
Any quick phrases for a pharmacy visit?
  • Tem algo para a tosse e para a garganta irritada?
  • Preciso de um xarope para a tosse.
  • A minha garganta está muito irritada desde ontem.
Pronunciation tips for tricky parts of the sentence?
  • tenho: the nh sounds like the “ny” in canyon (TEN-yoo).
  • tosse: open “o” (like “toss”), final e is a light, unstressed vowel (TÓS-suh).
  • desde: the s sounds like the “zh” in “vision” before a voiced consonant (DEZH-duh).
  • ontem: nasal vowel in on and a nasal ending (ÓN-teng; no hard g).
  • garganta: single r between vowels is a quick tap (like Spanish r): gar-GAN-tuh.
  • irritada: rr is a throaty sound (like French r): ee-hee-TAH-duh.
  • está: stress the last syllable: es-TAH.
Why is there no article before ontem?
Because ontem is an adverb (“yesterday”), not a noun. Time adverbs like hoje, amanhã, ontem don’t take articles. Hence desde ontem.
Are there Portugal–Brazil differences I should know here?
  • Progressive: EU PT uses estar a + infinitive (estou a tossir); BR uses estar + gerúndio (estou tossindo).
  • Both varieties accept tenho tosse and estou com tosse, but estou com tosse is especially common in Brazil.
  • Watch the false friend constipado: in Portugal, estou constipado/a means “I have a cold,” not “constipated.”
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Portuguese

Master Portuguese — from Tenho tosse desde ontem e a garganta está irritada to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Portuguese freeBrowse the full course