Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): A programadora mais velha diz que provavelmente todos cometem os mesmos erros no início. - The older programmer says that probably everyone makes the same mistakes at the beginning.

Here, A programadora mais velha means “the older programmer”, referring to a specific person already known in the context. In Portuguese you normally use the definite article with professions when the person is specific.

Why is mais velha after programadora and not before?

In Portuguese, most descriptive adjectives come after the noun:

programadora velha = old programmer
programadora inteligente = intelligent programmer

Here, mais velha is the comparative form “older”:

velha = old
mais velha = older

So:
a programadora mais velha = the older programmer (the older one of two or more female programmers).

Putting it before, a mais velha programadora, sounds unusual and changes the focus; in this sentence the natural order is noun + adjective: programadora mais velha.

What exactly does diz que mean? Why do we need que?

diz is “(she) says” (3rd person singular of dizer).

que here is a conjunction meaning “that”, introducing the content of what she says:

A programadora mais velha diz que…
= The older programmer says that…

In English, “that” can often be dropped (“She says everyone probably makes…”), but in Portuguese the que is normally required:

✅ diz que provavelmente todos cometem…
❌ diz provavelmente todos cometem… (feels incomplete / wrong without que here)

Why is provavelmente placed there? Could it go in another position?

provavelmente = probably (an adverb).

In the sentence:

diz que provavelmente todos cometem os mesmos erros no início

the adverb is placed after que and before the subject todos.

Other possible (still natural) positions:

diz que todos provavelmente cometem os mesmos erros no início.
provavelmente, a programadora mais velha diz que todos cometem os mesmos erros no início.

All are grammatically correct. The original emphasizes the statement itself as probable, not necessarily highlighting any specific part of the clause. The most neutral position is usually before the main verb of that clause (provavelmente cometem or provavelmente todos cometem).

What does todos mean here, and why is the verb cometem in the plural?

todos here means “everyone”, literally “all (people)”. Grammatically, it is third person plural, so the verb agrees in the plural:

todos cometem = everyone makes / all (of them) make

If the subject were singular, you’d have:

toda a gente comete = everyone makes (literally “all the people” – very common in European Portuguese)
toda a gente is grammatically singular, so comete (3rd sg.)

In this sentence, the speaker chose todos, so the correct agreement is plural: cometem.

Why is it cometem and not something like a future or conditional tense?

cometem is the present indicative, 3rd person plural of cometer (to commit / to make [mistakes]).

In Portuguese, the present tense is also used for:

general truths or habits:
- Todos cometem erros. = Everyone makes mistakes (in general).

The sentence:

provavelmente todos cometem os mesmos erros no início

means “everyone probably makes the same mistakes at the beginning” as a general pattern, not necessarily referring to a specific future situation. So the present tense is natural and idiomatic.

What does os mesmos erros literally mean, and why is mesmos before erros?

os erros = the mistakes / the errors
os mesmos erros = the same mistakes

mesmo as an adjective can mean “same”. With this meaning, it goes before the noun and usually keeps the article:

o mesmo livro = the same book
as mesmas pessoas = the same people
os mesmos erros = the same mistakes

You wouldn’t say os erros mesmos to mean “the same errors”; that sounds unnatural. Placement and article are part of the fixed pattern for “the same X”: o / a / os / as + mesmo(s) + noun.

What does no início mean, and how is it formed?

no início = “at the beginning” / “in the beginning”.

It’s a contraction:

em (in / at) + o (the, masculine singular) → no
início = beginning / start

So:
em + o início → no início = at the beginning.

You’ll see this pattern a lot:

no verão = in the summer
no trabalho = at work
no filme = in the film

Is there any difference between no início and no começo?

Both can often mean “at the beginning”:

no início
no começo

They are very close in meaning, and both are used in European Portuguese. There can be small preference differences depending on context or speaker, but in this sentence you could say either without changing the basic meaning:

…os mesmos erros no início.
…os mesmos erros no começo.

início may sound slightly more neutral/formal in many contexts, but it’s not a strong contrast here.

Why is no início at the end of the sentence? Could it go earlier?

Time expressions like no início are very often placed at the end of the clause:

Todos cometem os mesmos erros no início.

You can move it:

No início, todos cometem os mesmos erros.

Both orders are correct. Putting it at the end is the most common, neutral position in everyday speech. Placing it at the beginning highlights the time frame more.

Can I use falar instead of dizer here, like A programadora mais velha fala que…?

In everyday speech, some people do say falar que, especially under Brazilian influence, but in European Portuguese the standard and safest choice for “say that…” is dizer que:

A programadora mais velha diz que… ✅ (preferred / standard)
A programadora mais velha fala que… ⚠️ possible in some varieties, but sounds less natural/formal in European Portuguese

Use dizer que when introducing reported speech or information. falar is more “to speak / to talk” (about a topic):

A programadora mais velha fala sobre os erros.
= The older programmer talks about the mistakes.

Is there any special reason the subjunctive isn’t used after diz que?

After dizer que, you usually use the indicative when you’re reporting what someone presents as a fact or general truth:

Ela diz que todos cometem os mesmos erros.
(She says that everyone makes the same mistakes.)

The subjunctive is triggered more by verbs of doubt, desire, emotion, possibility, or certain conjunctions. Here, the older programmer is making a statement she believes to be generally true, so the indicative cometem is the natural choice.