Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Que bem que ela canta!

Que bem que ela canta!

How well she sings!

Breakdown of Que bem que ela canta!

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Questions & Answers about Que bem que ela canta!

Why are there two ques in this short sentence?

The first Que is the exclamation word meaning 'How'. The second que is an optional filler word that Portuguese speakers often add to make exclamations sound more natural and expressive. It doesn't translate to anything in English.

Would the sentence still be correct if I left out the second que?

Yes! You can perfectly say Que bem ela canta! and it means exactly the same thing. Adding the extra que in the middle is just a very common conversational habit in Portugal.

Why does the sentence use Que to mean 'How', rather than Como?

When making an exclamation directly before an adjective or an adverb (like bem), Portuguese uses Que. If you wanted to use Como (How), you would have to change the word order to emphasize the verb instead, as in: Como ela canta bem!

What would it mean if I said Que bom que ela canta! instead?

It would change the meaning completely. Bem is an adverb meaning 'well', describing how she sings. Bom is an adjective meaning 'good'. If you say Que bom que ela canta!, you are saying 'How good it is that she sings!' rather than complimenting her voice.