Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Este trânsito deixa-me maluco.

Este trânsito deixa-me maluco.

This traffic drives me crazy.

Breakdown of Este trânsito deixa-me maluco.

este

this (este, esta, estes, estas)

o trânsito

the traffic

deixar

to leave (behind) / to quit / to let (allow)

maluco

crazy (colloquial)

Questions & Answers about Este trânsito deixa-me maluco.

Why use deixa instead of a verb meaning "drives" or "makes"?

In Portuguese, the verb deixar (literally "to leave") is commonly used to express how a situation makes you feel. You are literally saying "this traffic leaves me crazy." Trying to translate "makes me" with fazer or "drives me" with conduzir sounds very unnatural here.

Does trânsito mean public transit as well as road traffic?

No, trânsito is a partial false friend. It almost exclusively refers to the flow of vehicles on the road, or a traffic jam. If you want to talk about public transit, you should use the phrase transportes públicos.

Why is the pronoun attached to the end in deixa-me instead of coming before the verb?

In European Portuguese, pronouns attach to the end of the verb in simple affirmative sentences. There are no "magnet words" here (like negative words or certain adverbs) before the verb that would pull the me to the front.

If I am female, do I need to change maluco to maluca?

Yes! The adjective describes the state of the person being affected, which is the direct object me. It does not agree with the masculine subject trânsito. Therefore, a female speaker must say deixa-me maluca.