Breakdown of Seja vegano, seja vegetariano, o prato é nutritivo.
ser
to be
o
him/it (m)
o prato
the plate / the dish
vegetariano
vegetarian
seja
whether (in seja... seja)
vegano
vegan
nutritivo
nutritious
Questions & Answers about Seja vegano, seja vegetariano, o prato é nutritivo.
Why do we use seja... seja... instead of a direct translation for "whether... or"?
The paired expression seja... seja... is the standard Portuguese way to express "whether... or..." when presenting alternative possibilities. It literally translates to "be it... be it...". Because it sets up hypothetical alternatives that might or might not be true, it requires the present subjunctive form of the verb ser (to be).
Why isn't there a subject next to the words seja in the first half of the sentence?
Portuguese frequently drops subject pronouns when they are obvious from the context. Here, the hidden subject of seja is o prato (the dish), which is officially introduced later in the main clause. While you could technically say Seja o prato vegano..., saving the subject for the main indicative clause flows much more naturally in Portuguese.
Why does the verb switch to the indicative mood with é in the second half of the sentence?
The first half sets up alternative, hypothetical conditions, which triggers the subjunctive mood (seja). However, the second half (o prato é nutritivo) states a definite fact that remains true regardless of which condition is met. Because it is a declared certainty rather than a hypothesis, it takes the indicative mood (é).
Is vegano the only word used for "vegan" in Portugal?
Vegano is the standard Portuguese adjective, but it is extremely common to see and hear the English loanword vegan used in everyday life in Portugal. One helpful grammar difference at a B2 level: the loanword vegan does not change for gender or number, whereas the Portuguese word vegano must change to match the noun it describes (e.g., uma dieta vegana).
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