A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

Today’s motto is to rest.

Breakdown of A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

• ser: to be
• hoje: today
• descansar: to rest
• a palavra de ordem: the slogan

Questions & Answers about A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

What does palavra de ordem literally mean, and what’s the closest English expression?

Literally:

• palavra = word
• de = of
• ordem = order

So a literal translation would be “word of order”.

Idiomatic meaning in this sentence: something like

• “the order of the day”
• “the watchword today”
• “the guiding principle today”

In many contexts palavra de ordem can also mean a slogan or chant (e.g. at demonstrations), but here it means “the main directive / main rule for today”: to rest.

Why is it palavra de ordem and not palavra da ordem?

In this fixed expression, Portuguese uses the simple preposition de rather than the contracted form da (de + a).

Some points:

• de ordem here has a more general, descriptive sense:
  
  • palavra de ordem ≈ “watchword / guiding word”
• da ordem would usually mean “of the (specific) order”, referring to some very concrete, previously mentioned order.

Compare:

• palavra de ordem – idiomatic set phrase: “watchword / key directive”
• laudo de perícia – “expert’s report” (another descriptive de)
• o livro da professora – “the teacher’s book” (specific owner, hence da)

So palavra de ordem is a lexicalized expression. Changing it to palavra da ordem would sound strange or change the meaning.

Why is the article a used before palavra? Could we leave it out?

palavra is a feminine noun in Portuguese, so it takes the feminine article a:

• a palavra = the word
• o livro = the book (masculine)

In this sentence:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
  → We are talking about the specific key directive for today.

Could you omit the article?

• Palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

This would sound informal or stylistic, like a headline or a slogan, but it’s less neutral than with the article. In normal speech or writing, the version with a is more natural in European Portuguese.

Could we say Uma palavra de ordem hoje é descansar? What would change?

You could say it, but it changes the meaning:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
  → There is one main directive, and it is to rest.

• Uma palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
  → “One (of the) guiding word(s) today is to rest.”
  Implies there are several “palavras de ordem”, and resting is just one of them.

In the original sentence, the speaker is emphasizing this is the key thing for today, so a palavra is the natural choice.

Why is hoje placed there? Can it move in the sentence?

In the original:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

hoje (today) is an adverb of time, and it’s quite flexible. All of these are grammatically correct:

• Hoje, a palavra de ordem é descansar.
• A palavra de ordem é descansar hoje.
• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

Differences:

• At the beginning (Hoje, ...) – stronger emphasis on today.
• Just before é (... hoje é descansar) – very natural in speech; subtly highlights today.
• At the end (... é descansar hoje) – emphasizes the day when you rest.

The original order is very natural and neutral; others are possible with small changes in emphasis.

Why is it é descansar with the infinitive, and not something like é o descanso?

Portuguese often uses the infinitive to talk about actions in an abstract, “activity as a concept” sense:

• Fumar faz mal. – “Smoking is bad.”
• Comer bem é importante. – “Eating well is important.”

In the same way:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
  → “The main directive today is to rest / resting.”

If you said é o descanso:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é o descanso.
  This would be more like: “The key thing today is rest (as a noun),” still understandable but a bit more formal or less natural in everyday speech.

The infinitive descansar is the most idiomatic and direct way to express “what you should do” here.

Why is the verb ser (é) used here, and not estar?

In Portuguese:

• ser is used for more defining, characteristic, or general statements.
• estar is used for more temporary states or locations.

Here, we’re defining what the guiding directive is:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
  → “What is the word of order? It is to rest.”

If you used estar (which would already sound odd: está descansar is ungrammatical), you’d be trying to express a temporary state rather than an identity.

Correct contrasts:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar. (definition)
• Hoje estamos cansados. – “Today we’re tired.” (temporary state, so estar)

Why is it descansar and not descansar-se? Isn’t “to rest” sometimes reflexive?

Both forms exist, but their use differs:

• descansar (non‑reflexive) – the normal way to say “to rest” in European Portuguese:

  • Preciso de descansar. – “I need to rest.”
  • Hoje vamos descansar. – “Today we’re going to rest.”

• descansar-se (reflexive) – possible, but:

  • Often sounds more literary, regional, or old‑fashioned.
  • Less common in everyday European Portuguese.

So in this sentence:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
  is the natural choice.

A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar-se. would generally sound unusual or overly marked in modern European Portuguese.

Can palavra de ordem be used in other contexts, like politics or protests?

Yes. palavra de ordem has a few common uses:

1. Slogan / chant at demonstrations

   • As palavras de ordem ecoavam na rua.
     “The slogans were echoing in the street.”

2. Guiding principle / key idea in a group or period

   • Na empresa, a palavra de ordem é inovação.
     “In the company, the watchword is innovation.”

3. This sentence’s meaning

   • For today, the key principle / instruction is to rest.

So the structure in your sentence is very typical:
A palavra de ordem (em X contexto) é Y.

Can palavra de ordem be plural? How would the sentence change?

Yes, it can be plural:

• a palavra de ordem → as palavras de ordem

Example:

• As palavras de ordem hoje são descansar e não stressar.
  “The watchwords today are to rest and not to stress.”

By using the plural, you indicate more than one key directive. In the original, the singular stresses there is one main “palavra de ordem”: resting.

Are there any differences between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese in this sentence?

The sentence:

• A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.

is perfectly natural in both European and Brazilian Portuguese.

Small notes:

• Brazilians might also say:
  • A palavra de ordem hoje é descanso.
    (Using the noun instead of the infinitive, still quite natural.)
• Intonation and accent differ, but grammar and choice of ser + infinitive are shared.

So, for the structure and vocabulary here, European and Brazilian Portuguese are essentially the same.

How is this sentence pronounced, especially palavra and ordem, in European Portuguese?

Approximate European Portuguese pronunciation (not IPA, just a guide):

• A – like “ah”

• palavra – pah-LAH-vrah

  • pa – “pah”
  • la – “lah” (stressed syllable)
  • vra – “vrah” (the final a is short and less clear)

• de – often reduced, like very quick “d(uh)” or almost just d attached to the next word.

• ordem – ÓR-deng

  • or – “ór” (like “or” in “order” but shorter) – stressed
  • dem – nasalized “deng”; the final m isn’t fully pronounced, it just makes the vowel nasal.

• hoje – roughly OH-zh(uh)

  • ho – “oh”
  • je – “zh” + very light, reduced vowel

• é – “eh” (short, open)

• descansar – d(ish)-kun-SAR

  • des – often reduced, like “d(e)sh”
  • can – “kun”
  • sar – “SAR” (stressed)

So, joined together quite quickly:

A palavra de ordem hoje é descansar.
≈ Ah pah-LAH-vrah d’ÓR-deng OH-zh eh d(ish)-kun-SAR.