Log inSign up

Ela fala devagar.

Ela fala devagar.
She speaks slowly.
From Lesson 31:Asking the way (à direita, sempre em frente)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Ela fala devagar.

ela
she
falar
to speak
devagar
slowly

Questions & Answers about Ela fala devagar.

Why does the verb change to fala instead of staying as falar?
Because it needs to match the subject Ela (She). In the present tense, regular verbs that end in "-ar" drop the "-ar" and add "-a" for "he", "she", and "you" (formal). So, falar (to speak) becomes fala.
I learned that Portuguese adverbs usually end in "-mente". Why is "slowly" translated as devagar?
You are right that many adverbs end in "-mente", and you could actually say lentamente (slowly). However, devagar is a very common word that just naturally means "slowly" without needing a special ending. In spoken, everyday Portuguese, people use devagar much more often than lentamente.
Can I change the word order and say Ela devagar fala?
No, that would sound unnatural. In Portuguese, adverbs that describe how an action is done usually go right after the verb.

Learn Ela fala devagar and more in Portuguese

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Portuguese →