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Portuguese (Portugal)

### The Prefix des- (Lack or Reversal)

In Portuguese, adding a prefix to a base word is a highly common way to create an antonym or express opposition. The prefix **des-** often indicates the lack of something or the reversal of a state. It is very similar to the English prefixes "dis-", "de-", or "un-".

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### The Prefix anti- (Against)

The prefix **anti-** means "against" or "opposed to," and is frequently used to describe political stances or social movements. 

Note an important spelling rule: when you attach a prefix ending in a vowel (like **anti-**) to a word starting with **r** or **s**, you must double the **r** or **s** to preserve the sound. For example, *anti-* + *racista* becomes **antirracista**.

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### The Prefix in- (Negation)

Much like in English, the prefix **in-** simply negates the base word, turning a positive trait or concept into a negative one.

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### The Prefix contra- (Counter or Opposing)

The prefix **contra-** is used to describe a direct response, a clash, or an opposing action. It acts just like the English prefix "counter-".

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### Reversing Actions with des-

Prefixes are not just for nouns and adjectives. When you add the prefix **des-** to an existing verb, it reverses the original action.

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Prefixes of negation and opposition (in-, des-, anti-, contra-)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prefix

prep

preposition

pron

pronoun

sentence

verb

Demonstratives and the verb to be (isto é, o, a)

Subject pronouns and negation (eu, não)

Yes/no questions and question words (quem, o que)

Plural pronouns, articles, and verbs (somos, são, os, as)

Origin and possession (de, do, da)

Introductions (chamar-se)

Indefinite articles (um, uma, uns, umas)

The verb to be for locations (estar)

Contrasting the two verbs to be (ser vs. estar)

Preposition for locations (em, no, na)

Numbers 0 to 10 (zero, um, dois)

The verb to have (tenho, tem)

Regular -ar verbs (falar, trabalhar)

Regular -er verbs (comer, beber)

Regular -ir verbs (abrir, partir)

My, your, and our (o meu, a nossa)

His, hers, and theirs (dele, dela)

Adjective agreement and placement

Days of the week (segunda-feira)

Months of the year (janeiro)

Counting by tens to 100 (trinta, quarenta...)

Telling time (é uma, são...)

Asking about time (quando, a que horas)

The verb to go (ir)

Prepositions of direction (a, para)

Preposition a contractions (ao, à, aos, às)

Prepositions of place (ao lado de, em frente de...)

Demonstratives (este, esse, aquele)

Contractions with demonstratives (neste, desse, daquele)

Asking which and how many (qual, quanto)

Plurals ending in -ão (-ões, -ãos, -ães)

Plurals ending in consonants (-ns, -is, -es)

The verb to like (gostar de)

The verb to need (precisar de)

The verb to want (querer)

The verb can or may (poder)

Expressing obligation (ter de)

Adverbs of degree (muito, pouco)

Quantifiers (muito, pouco)

Comparatives (mais... do que, menos... do que)

Equality comparisons (tão... como)

The preposition com (comigo, contigo)

Coordinating conjunctions (e, mas, ou, porque)

The preposition por (pelo, pela)

Double negation (nunca, nada, ninguém)

Present continuous (estar a)

Near future (ir)

Past tense of regular -ar verbs

Past tense of regular -er and -ir verbs

Past tense of ser and ir (fui, foi)

Direct object pronouns (me, te, o, a, nos, os, as)

Pronoun placement with negatives and questions

Greetings and courtesy (bom dia, obrigado)

Physical states with ter (ter fome, ter frio)

Asking the way (à direita, sempre em frente)

Colours (vermelho, amarelo, cor-de-rosa)

Money and shopping (custar, a moeda)

Getting around (o motorista, a paragem de autocarro)

Weather and seasons (faz calor, o inverno)

Omitting the subject pronoun

Where things are: ficar (Onde fica...?)

Richer questions: que + noun and é que

Numbers above 100 (cento e vinte, mil)

First-person sound changes (durmo, prefiro)

Advice and ability: dever and saber

Asking why: porquê and porque

When one thing happens: quando-clauses

Here and there: aqui, aí, ali (cá e lá)

Formal and plural possessives: o seu, o vosso

Irregular presents: ver, vir, dar

Present irregulars

Reflexive verbs (me, te, se, nos)

Stem-changing reflexives

Attached object pronouns (-lo, -la, -los, -las)

Nasal attached pronouns (-no, -na, -nos, -nas)

Pronoun placement with adverbs

Past tense of fazer, dizer, and trazer

Past tense of ter, estar, poder, and saber

Past tense of querer and vir

Past tense of ver, dar, and ler

Past tense reflexive verbs (-se)

Time elapsed in the past (há)

Question	Answer
the inequality	a desigualdade
If you saw the inequality, you would protest.	Se visses a desigualdade, protestarias.
The inequality became a serious problem.	A desigualdade tornou-se um problema grave.
the deforestation	a desflorestação
We must stop the deforestation.	É preciso impedir a desflorestação.
The deforestation is completely unacceptable.	A desflorestação é completamente inaceitável.
the disobedience	a desobediência
Civil disobedience is not a crime.	A desobediência civil não é um crime.
They started practicing civil disobedience.	Eles passaram a praticar a desobediência civil.
antidemocratic	antidemocrático
That law is antidemocratic and unfair.	Essa lei é antidemocrática e injusta.
We fight against everything that is antidemocratic.	Lutamos contra tudo o que é antidemocrático.
antiracist	antirracista
The protest was completely antiracist.	O protesto foi completamente antirracista.
Read this antiracist book!	Lê este livro antirracista!
the intolerance	a intolerância
It was the intolerance that caused the conflict.	Foi a intolerância que provocou o conflito.
Besides the intolerance, there is a lot of fear.	Além da intolerância, há muito medo.
the incoherence	a incoerência
No matter how much they speak, I notice the incoherence.	Por mais que falem, eu noto a incoerência.
In other words, there is an enormous incoherence here.	Dito de outro modo, há uma enorme incoerência aqui.
to contradict	contradizer
They always contradict the scientists.	Eles contradizem sempre os cientistas.
I don't like to contradict the mayor.	Não gosto de contradizer o autarca.
the counterproposal	a contraproposta
The counterproposal is quite interesting.	A contraproposta é bastante interessante.
We will present the counterproposal within two days.	Apresentaremos a contraproposta dentro de dois dias.
to demobilize	desmobilizar
The police tried to demobilize the crowd.	A polícia tentou desmobilizar a multidão.
We are not going to demobilize the strike on Monday.	Não vamos desmobilizar a greve na segunda-feira.