Breakdown of Costumamos ir à feira da ladra o mais cedo possível para regatear.
cedo
early
a
to / at (direction)
ir
to go
para
to / for
mais
more
o
him/it (m)
costumar
to usually do
possível
possible
a feira da ladra
the flea market (used goods)
regatear
to haggle
Questions & Answers about Costumamos ir à feira da ladra o mais cedo possível para regatear.
Why do we use 'o' in 'o mais cedo possível'? Does it ever change to match who is going to the market?
The phrase o mais [adverb] possível means 'as [adverb] as possible'. Because cedo (early) is an adverb, it doesn't have a gender or plural form. Therefore, the expression stays in its default masculine singular form: o mais cedo possível. It doesn't matter that 'we' (nós) are the ones going. The phrase would only change if it were describing a specific noun, like as opções mais baratas possíveis (the cheapest options possible).
What does 'feira da ladra' literally mean?
It literally translates to 'market of the female thief'. This is the traditional Portuguese term for a flea market where second-hand goods and antiques are sold (the most famous one being in Lisbon). It operates as a set cultural phrase, which is why we use the feminine singular contraction à (a + a) before it.
The translation says 'we usually go', but where is the word for 'usually'?
Why is it 'para regatear' and not 'por regatear'?
We use para before the infinitive regatear because it expresses purpose or a goal—you are going to the market in order to haggle. If you used por, it would express a cause or reason, implying you went to the market because you haggled, which doesn't fit the context here.
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