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Questions & Answers about O lume está baixo.
What does the word in bold actually refer to, and is it specific to Portugal?
In European Portuguese, lume refers to the flame/heat used for cooking (the burner heat). It’s the everyday word in recipes and kitchen talk in Portugal. In Brazil, people normally say fogo for this.
Why is it está and not é?
Use estar for temporary or changeable states. The heat level of a stove changes, so O lume está baixo is correct. É baixo would suggest a permanent characteristic, which doesn’t fit here.
Why baixo (ending in -o) and not baixa?
Agreement: lume is masculine singular (with the article o), so the adjective is masculine singular baixo. Other forms: baixa (feminine), baixos/baixas (plurals).
Is the article necessary? Can I say “Lume está baixo”?
You need the article: O lume está baixo. Bare singular countable nouns normally take an article in Portuguese. Saying “Lume está baixo” sounds wrong.
Is this what people actually say when cooking? Any more idiomatic options?
Yes, it’s natural. You’ll also hear:
- Em lume brando = on low heat (very common in PT).
- O lume está no mínimo = the burner is at minimum.
- O lume está fraco = the heat is weak/low.
How would I say this in Brazilian Portuguese?
Use fogo instead of lume:
- O fogo está baixo.
- Em fogo baixo. Brazilians don’t usually say lume.
How do I pronounce the sentence in European Portuguese?
Approximate EP pronunciation: [u ˈlumɨ ʃˈta ˈbajʃu]
- o (article) = [u]
- lume = [ˈlumɨ] (final e is a weak vowel)
- está = [ʃˈta] (initial s before a consonant sounds like “sh”)
- baixo = [ˈbajʃu] (x = “sh”)
Can I drop the subject and just say “Está baixo”?
Yes, Portuguese allows null subjects. In context (pointing at the stove), Está baixo is fine. For clarity or in writing, keep O lume.
Does baixo here mean “short,” like a short person?
Baixo can mean “low” (heat, volume, altitude) or “short” (height of a person). For “short” in length/time, use curto. Here it means “low” (heat level).
Can I say em baixo or embaixo instead?
No. Embaixo/embaixo means “downstairs/below” (location), not “low (level).” For heat level you want baixo with estar: O lume está baixo.
How do I tell someone to lower or raise the heat?
- Lower: Baixa o lume, por favor. (tu) / Baixe o lume, por favor. (você)
- Raise: Sobe o lume / Aumenta o lume Common verbs: baixar, subir, aumentar.
Is lume still used if the stove is electric or induction (no actual flame)?
Yes. In Portugal, lume is used broadly for the cooking heat setting, even on electric/induction hobs.
What’s the grammar role of baixo here?
It’s a predicative adjective after estar (state description). Note that baixo can also work adverbially in some expressions (e.g., falar baixo = speak quietly), but here it’s an adjective agreeing with lume.
Any useful set phrases with lume?
- Pôr ao lume = put on the heat (“start cooking”)
- Deixar em lume brando = leave on low heat (simmer)
- Tirar do lume = remove from the heat
Is there a plural, like “lumes”?
The plural lumes exists but is rare in everyday kitchen talk. People normally refer to the heat generically (o lume) or to individual burners as bocas do fogão.
I keep mixing up está and esta. Which is which?
- está (with accent) = “is” (3rd person of estar): O lume está baixo.
- esta (no accent) = “this” (feminine demonstrative): esta panela (this pan).