Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Às vezes, uma mentira pequena cria um problema grande; é melhor dizer a verdade. - Sometimes, a small lie creates a big problem; it’s better to tell the truth.

It marks a contraction (called crase) of the preposition a + the feminine plural article as = às. The set phrase às vezes literally comes from “at the times,” but it just means “sometimes.” Other common ones: à noite (at night), às três (at three o’clock), à tarde (in the afternoon).

Can I write As vezes without the accent?

No. As vezes (without the grave accent) is incorrect here. The correct fixed expression is às vezes. If you want a synonym, use de vez em quando or (in Portugal, often formal) por vezes.

Why is there a comma after Às vezes?

A short introductory adverbial like Às vezes is typically set off by a comma in Portuguese. You’ll also see it without a comma in quick, informal writing, but the comma is standard and recommended.

Is the semicolon before é melhor necessary? Could I use something else?

The semicolon is perfectly acceptable here to link two closely related independent clauses. You could also write a period (…problema grande. É melhor…) or use a connector: …problema grande, por isso é melhor… or …problema grande — é melhor…

Why is é used instead of está or seria in é melhor?

Use ser (é) for general truths and evaluations: É melhor… means “It’s (generally) better…”. Está melhor is about a temporary state (e.g., “He is better now”). Seria melhor softens it: “It would be better,” a more tentative or polite suggestion.

Why is the verb cria singular?

Because the subject is singular: uma mentira pequena. The adverbial às vezes (“sometimes”) doesn’t affect number agreement, so we need third person singular: cria.

Why is problema masculine even though it ends in -a?

Some nouns of Greek origin ending in -ma (e.g., o problema, o tema, o sistema) are masculine in Portuguese. So it’s um problema, o problema, and the adjective agrees accordingly: um problema grande.

Why are the adjectives placed after the nouns (mentira pequena, problema grande)? Isn’t it usually before?

Both positions exist. Post-nominal adjectives (after the noun) are the default, more descriptive placement. Pre-nominal adjectives (before the noun) are common too, often sounding more idiomatic or subjective. Here, many speakers would actually prefer: uma pequena mentira cria um grande problema.

Is there a nuance between mentira pequena and pequena mentira, and between problema grande and grande problema?

Yes:

pequena mentira tends to feel more idiomatic and evaluative (“a small/harmless lie”).
mentira pequena is fine but more matter-of-factly descriptive.
um grande problema generally means “a big/serious problem” (importance/gravity).
um problema grande can sound more literally “large,” though context often neutralizes the difference. In this sentence, uma pequena mentira… um grande problema is very natural.

Why is it dizer a verdade and not falar a verdade?

Both exist, but dizer a verdade (“to tell the truth”) is the standard collocation. Falar a verdade is also used (especially in speech), but dizer directly targets the content of what you say, which fits better here.

Why does verdade take the article a in dizer a verdade?

Portuguese commonly uses the definite article with abstract nouns when speaking generically. So you say dizer a verdade (“tell the truth”), not dizer verdade. This is a frequent difference from English.

Should it be à verdade (with grave accent) in dizer a verdade?

No. The verb dizer takes a direct object without the preposition a here, so you only need the article a. There’s no contraction: dizer a verdade, not dizer à verdade.

Could I personalize it as É melhor dizeres a verdade?

Yes, in European Portuguese you can use the personal infinitive to aim the advice at “you” (tu): É melhor dizeres a verdade. The impersonal É melhor dizer a verdade gives general advice without targeting a person.

Are there European Portuguese alternatives to às vezes?

Yes:

por vezes (often a bit more formal)
de vez em quando
ocasionalmente All mean “sometimes,” with slight differences in tone/register.

Can I use a diminutive like mentirinha?

Yes, mentirinha (also mentirazinha) is used in Portugal in informal speech and means “little lie.” With a diminutive, you’d usually place the adjective/diminutive before: uma mentirinha pode criar um grande problema.