No computador, usei um atalho para copiar o texto sem mexer no rato.

No is a contraction of em + o, so it literally means in/on the.

So:

• em o computador → no computador

In this sentence, No computador means something like On the computer or When using the computer. It sets the context for what follows.

Starting the sentence this way is natural in Portuguese when you want to frame the situation first.

Usei is the 1st person singular of usar in the pretérito perfeito simples.

That means:

• usar = to use
• usei = I used

This tense is used for a completed action in the past. The speaker is talking about one finished action: they used a shortcut.

Atalho means shortcut.

In everyday Portuguese, atalho can mean a shortcut in a general sense, like a quicker route. In computer language, it often means a shortcut, especially a keyboard shortcut.

So here usei um atalho most naturally means I used a shortcut, probably a keyboard shortcut such as Ctrl+C.

If you want to be more explicit, you can say:

• um atalho de teclado = a keyboard shortcut

Para + infinitive is very commonly used to express purpose.

So:

• para copiar o texto = to copy the text / in order to copy the text

It answers the question for what purpose?

• Usei um atalho para copiar o texto.
• I used a shortcut to copy the text.

This is one of the most common structures in Portuguese.

Portuguese uses definite articles more often than English.

So o texto means the text, and it sounds natural even in cases where English might simply say text.

In this sentence, o texto refers to a specific piece of text the speaker is copying, so the article is very natural.

Sem means without, and it is often followed by an infinitive:

• sem mexer = without moving/touching/using

So:

• sem mexer no rato = without touching/using/moving the mouse

Here mexer does not just mean literal movement. In this context, it can suggest not using the mouse at all, including not reaching for it, not clicking it, and not moving it around.

Because mexer often takes the preposition em.

So the underlying structure is:

• mexer em o rato

But em + o contracts to no:

• mexer no rato

This is a very important pattern in Portuguese. Some verbs require a preposition even when English does not.

Here, mexer no rato means something like:

• to touch the mouse
• to fiddle with the mouse
• to use the mouse

depending on context.

Yes. In European Portuguese, rato is the normal standard word for a computer mouse.

So in Portugal:

• rato = mouse

English mouse is also understood, but rato is the usual Portuguese word.

A useful note:

• In Brazilian Portuguese, mouse is much more common than rato for the computer device.

So if you are learning Portuguese from Portugal, rato is the word you should expect.

Yes, you could, but the meaning changes slightly.

• sem mover o rato = without moving the mouse
• sem mexer no rato = without touching/using/fiddling with the mouse

Mover o rato focuses more on the physical movement. Mexer no rato is broader and can imply not using it at all.

So in the original sentence, sem mexer no rato sounds very natural because keyboard shortcuts are often used without needing the mouse.

Yes, it could come later.

For example:

• Usei um atalho no computador para copiar o texto sem mexer no rato.

That is also grammatical.

Putting No computador at the beginning gives it a topic-setting function. It is like saying:

• As for the computer...
• On the computer...

This kind of word order is common in Portuguese when the speaker wants to establish the setting first.

In English, on the computer is usually the best translation here.

Even though Portuguese uses em and the contraction no, the natural English equivalent in this context is:

• On the computer, I used a shortcut...

So this is a good reminder that prepositions do not always match directly between the two languages.

Because Portuguese often leaves out the subject pronoun when it is already clear from the verb ending.

• usei already tells you the subject is I

So:

• (Eu) usei um atalho...

Both are possible, but eu is often omitted unless the speaker wants emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Eu usei um atalho, não ele.
• I used a shortcut, not him.

Without emphasis, leaving out eu is more natural.

It depends on how explicit you want to be.

• atalho = shortcut
• atalho de teclado = keyboard shortcut

In context, atalho already strongly suggests a keyboard shortcut, especially because the sentence says sem mexer no rato. That makes the meaning clear.

So the original sentence is perfectly natural.
If you want to be extra specific, atalho de teclado is also a very good option.