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A ementa está na mesa.

A ementa está na mesa.
The menu is on the table.
From Lesson 52:Quantifiers (muito, pouco)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Questions & Answers about A ementa está na mesa.

Why do we use está here instead of é?
Está comes from the verb estar, which we use for temporary states and physical locations. Because the menu is physically located on the table, we always use estar instead of ser.
How do we get the word na?
Na is a mandatory combination of the preposition em (in/on/at) and the feminine word a (the). Because mesa (table) is a feminine noun, we say a mesa. When we combine em and a mesa, it shrinks into na mesa.
Can I just say menu instead of ementa?
Yes! In Portugal, ementa, menu, and carta are all commonly used for a restaurant menu. Ementa is a very traditional Portuguese word, but menu is also widely understood. Just remember that menu is a masculine word, so it would be o menu.

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