Question 1

Why does the plural of profissão end in -ões instead of -ãos or -ães?

Accepted Answer

While words ending in -ão can take three different plural forms, -ões is the most common. There is no absolute rule to memorize them all, but a helpful trick is that Portuguese words ending in -ão that translate to English words ending in "-tion" or "-ssion" (like profession/profissão) almost always form their plural with -ões.

Question 2

Why is the word das in this sentence? English just says "our professions".

Accepted Answer

The verb gostar (to like) always requires the preposition de (of) after it. In Portuguese, possessives are usually preceded by "the" (a or as for feminine words). When de (of) meets as (the plural "the"), they combine into the contraction das. You are literally saying "We do not like of the our professions."

Question 3

How do I know to use the feminine nossas for profissões when the singular ends in an -o sound?

Accepted Answer

Most Portuguese abstract nouns that end in -ão are actually feminine! Because profissão is feminine and plural here, the word for "our" must match it and become the feminine plural nossas.

Question 4

Do I have to include nós at the beginning of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

No, you can simply say Não gostamos das nossas profissões. The verb form gostamos already tells us the subject is "we", so the word nós is optional and very often dropped in everyday Portuguese.

Nós não gostamos das nossas profissões.

Breakdown of Nós não gostamos das nossas profissões.

Questions & Answers about Nós não gostamos das nossas profissões.

Learn Nós não gostamos das nossas profissões and more in Portuguese