Breakdown of O médico volta ao hospital no fim de semana.
o médico
the doctor (m)
no
in the / on the / at the (m, f, pl forms: na, nos, nas)
o hospital
the hospital
ao
to the / at the (m.sg; f.sg à, m.pl aos, f.pl às)
voltar
to return
o fim de semana
the weekend
Questions & Answers about O médico volta ao hospital no fim de semana.
Why is it ao hospital and not para o hospital here?
We use the preposition a (which combines with o to make ao) for short or temporary trips. Since the doctor is just going back for a weekend shift and will leave again, a is the best choice. If we used para, it implies a permanent move or a very long stay, as if he were moving to the hospital to live there.
Where does the word ao come from?
It is a required contraction. The preposition a (to) merges with the masculine word for the, which is o. Because hospital is a masculine noun, we combine a + o to make ao.
Why do we say no fim de semana?
When talking about things happening on or at the weekend, Portuguese uses the preposition em (in/on/at). Just like with ao, em merges with the masculine the (o) to become no. So it literally translates to in the end of week.
Is the letter h in hospital pronounced?
No, it is completely silent. In Portuguese, whenever an h is at the very beginning of a word, it makes no sound at all. You pronounce it as if it starts directly with the o.
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