Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Ele empresta o gorro à irmã no inverno e guarda o seu no bolso. - He lends the beanie to his sister in winter and keeps his own in his pocket.

It’s the contraction of the preposition a (to) + the feminine article a (the) = à. Plural: às.
Masculine equivalent: a + o = ao (e.g., ao irmão).
The grave accent marks this contraction; pronunciation is like plain a.

Why is it à irmã and not para a irmã?

In European Portuguese, recipients with verbs like emprestar use a: emprestar algo a alguém.
para for recipients is common in Brazil; in Portugal it can sound less natural here.

If the recipient were male, would it be ao irmão?

Why the definite article in o gorro? Does it imply possession?

Portuguese uses definite articles widely. With clothing/body parts, the article often stands in for a possessive when context is clear.
Empresta o gorro is often understood as “lends his hat,” but it can be ambiguous. Use o gorro dele/dela to be explicit.

In guarda o seu, whose hat is seu?

seu is ambiguous in EP: it can mean “his” (the subject’s) or “her” (the sister’s).
Most would read it as “his” here. For clarity, prefer guarda o dele (his) or guarda o dela (her).

Why not say guarda-o no bolso?

guarda-o = “keeps it,” referring to the previously mentioned o gorro. That would mean he keeps the same hat he just lent, which contradicts the context.
To say he keeps his own, use guarda o dele no bolso.

Why is there an article before seu (i.e., o seu)?

When the noun is omitted, the possessive functions as a pronoun and must take the article: o seu/a sua/os seus/as suas.
Here, o seu = “his one” (i.e., his hat).

Can I replace à irmã with a pronoun?

Yes: Ele empresta‑lhe o gorro (EP uses enclisis in affirmative clauses).
With negation or certain triggers: Ele não lhe empresta o gorro (proclisis).
Avoid doubling in EP (i.e., don’t use both lhe and à irmã together unless for marked emphasis).

How do I say “He lends it to her” using pronouns only?

Ele empresta‑lho (formal/written EP), where lho = lhe + o.
Feminine/plural: lha, lhos, lhas. In everyday speech, many prefer Ele empresta‑o a ela.

Why no inverno and not em inverno or ao inverno?

no = em + o. Seasons typically take the article: no inverno/na primavera/no verão/no outono.
em inverno is unnatural here; ao inverno (“to the winter”) is wrong.
Season names are not capitalized in Portuguese.

Does guardar mean “to guard,” or “to keep/put away”?

Is the word order fixed? Can I say Ele empresta à irmã o gorro?

Both orders are fine: empresta o gorro à irmã and empresta à irmã o gorro.
The first is more common; the second slightly emphasizes the recipient.

Why seu and not sua?

The possessive agrees with the thing owned, not the owner. gorro is masculine singular → o seu.
Examples: a sua camisola (sweater), os seus gorros, as suas luvas.

Do I need to say no seu bolso to mean “in his pocket”?

No. With body parts/clothing, the article usually implies the subject’s possession: no bolso ≈ “in his pocket.”
Use no seu bolso, no bolso dela, etc., only to avoid ambiguity.

What exactly is a gorro? How is it different from boné and chapéu?

Any pronunciation tips for key words?

What does the present tense convey here?

empresta/guarda are present indicative; in EP this often expresses habitual actions (what he does in winter).

Can I front the time phrase?