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O autocarro parte para o centro agora.

O autocarro parte para o centro agora.
The bus leaves for the center now.
From Lesson 28:Prepositions of direction (a, para)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about O autocarro parte para o centro agora.

Why do we use para o here instead of ao?
The verb partir (to leave or depart) almost always takes the preposition para to show the destination. In this lesson's context of 'a' versus 'para', para often implies a longer stay or final destination, while a implies a quick round trip. Also, just like in English where a bus leaves 'for' a place, in Portuguese it 'parte para' the place.
Does para o combine into a single word like do or no?
In formal written Portuguese, no. You always write them as two separate words: para o. However, in fast, casual spoken Portuguese, you will very often hear them blended together to sound like pro.
What is the infinitive (dictionary form) of parte?
It comes from the verb partir (to leave or depart). It is a regular -ir verb. Since the subject is o autocarro (a 'he' or 'it' third-person subject), we drop the -ir ending and add -e to make parte.
Is autocarro the standard word for bus in all Portuguese-speaking countries?
No, autocarro is the standard word in European Portuguese. If you are exposed to Brazilian Portuguese materials, you will see the word ônibus instead.

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