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A desobediência civil não é um crime.

A desobediência civil não é um crime.
Civil disobedience is not a crime.
From Lesson 351:Prefixes of negation and opposition (in-, des-, anti-, contra-)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A desobediência civil não é um crime.

How does the prefix des- work in the word desobediência?
It attaches to the base noun obediência (obedience) to express the exact opposite or absence of that quality, turning it into disobedience. The prefix des- is one of the most common ways to reverse a meaning or indicate an opposing action in Portuguese.
How is the letter s pronounced in the prefix of desobediência?
It is pronounced like an English "z". When the prefix des- is attached to a word starting with a vowel, like the o in this word, the s links directly with that vowel and takes on a voiced "z" sound.
Why do we need the definite article A at the start of the sentence when the English translation just says "Civil disobedience"?
In Portuguese, when you make a general statement about an abstract concept as a whole, you must include the definite article. While English drops "the" for general abstract nouns, Portuguese requires the A before desobediência.
Why does the adjective civil come after the noun here? Could it be placed before?
It must come after the noun. Adjectives that classify a noun or establish a specific category (differentiating civil disobedience from, say, military disobedience) are placed strictly after the noun in Portuguese.

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