A pomada ajuda a aliviar a comichão.

The ointment helps relieve the itch.

Breakdown of A pomada ajuda a aliviar a comichão.

• ajudar: to help
• aliviar: to relieve
• a pomada: the ointment
• a comichão: the itch

Questions & Answers about A pomada ajuda a aliviar a comichão.

Why are there three as in this sentence, and do they all mean the same thing?

No. They are three different words with three different jobs:

• A pomada: a = the feminine singular definite article, meaning the
• ajuda a aliviar: a = a preposition used before the infinitive aliviar
• a comichão: a = again the feminine singular definite article, meaning the

So they are spelled the same, but they do not all mean the same thing.

What does pomada mean exactly?

Pomada usually means ointment, salve, or sometimes a medicated cream that you put on the skin.

It is a feminine noun, so it takes a in the singular:

• a pomada = the ointment
• uma pomada = an ointment

In real use, pomada often suggests something thicker or more medicinal than a normal cosmetic creme.

Why does the sentence start with A pomada instead of just Pomada?

Portuguese uses articles more often than English.

So A pomada ajuda... is the natural way to say it when you mean:

• the ointment
• or, depending on context, this ointment / the ointment in question

In English, we sometimes say Ointment helps relieve itching, with no article. Portuguese is less likely to drop the article in an ordinary sentence like this.

Why is it ajuda a aliviar? Why is there an a before aliviar?

Because in European Portuguese, ajudar is very commonly followed by a + infinitive:

• ajudar a fazer
• ajudar a compreender
• ajudar a aliviar

So ajuda a aliviar means helps to relieve or helps relieve.

For a learner of Portuguese from Portugal, ajudar a + infinitive is the safest pattern to use.

What form is ajuda?

Ajuda is the 3rd person singular present of the verb ajudar:

• eu ajudo = I help
• tu ajudas = you help
• ele/ela ajuda = he/she/it helps

Here the subject is a pomada, which is singular, so ajuda means helps.

What does aliviar mean, and is it the same as curar?

No, they are not the same.

• aliviar = to relieve, ease, lessen
• curar = to cure

So A pomada ajuda a aliviar a comichão means the ointment makes the itching less bad. It does not necessarily mean the ointment cures the underlying problem.

What does comichão mean, and is it specifically European Portuguese?

Comichão means itch or itching.

It is very common in Portugal. In Brazil, people more often say coceira in everyday speech.

So:

• Portugal: comichão
• Brazil: often coceira

A more formal or medical word is prurido, but that is less everyday.

Why is it a comichão and not just comichão?

Again, Portuguese often uses the definite article where English might not.

So a comichão is the natural form here:

• aliviar a comichão = relieve the itching

Without the article, it would usually sound less natural in a normal sentence like this.

Could I say A pomada alivia a comichão instead?

Yes. That is a correct sentence, but the meaning is slightly different.

• A pomada ajuda a aliviar a comichão = The ointment helps relieve the itching
• A pomada alivia a comichão = The ointment relieves the itching

The version with ajuda a sounds a bit softer and less absolute. It suggests assistance or partial effect, not necessarily a complete solution.

How do you pronounce comichão?

A rough English-friendly approximation is koh-mee-SHAW̃.

A few useful points:

• ch sounds like sh
• the stress is on the last syllable: -chão
• ão is nasal, which English does not really have

So it is not exactly shao or show. The ending is nasal and very typically Portuguese.

How would the whole sentence roughly sound?

A rough approximation is:

uh puh-MAH-duh uh-ZHOO-duh uh ah-lee-vee-AR uh koo-mee-SHAW̃

A few key pronunciation notes for European Portuguese:

• j in ajuda sounds like the s in measure
• unstressed a often sounds reduced, more like uh
• ão is nasal
• r at the end of aliviar is pronounced, but lightly

This is only an approximation, but it can help you get started.