Question 1

Why does it say Na primavera instead of just Em primavera?

Accepted Answer

In Portuguese, we usually put "the" before the names of seasons. Primavera is a feminine word, so we combine the preposition em (in) with the feminine article a (the) to get the contraction na. Literally, the sentence starts with "In the spring".

Question 2

Are the other seasons also feminine like primavera?

Accepted Answer

Actually, primavera is the only feminine season in Portuguese! The other three are masculine: o verão (summer), o outono (autumn), and o inverno (winter). To talk about those, you would use the masculine contraction no (em + o), making it no verão, no outono, and no inverno.

Question 3

Why is the verb faz used here instead of the verb "to be"?

Accepted Answer

When talking about weather conditions, Portuguese often uses the verb fazer (to make or to do). Instead of saying "it is sunny", the phrase faz sol literally translates to "it makes sun". You will also see this with temperature, like faz frio (it is cold) and faz calor (it is hot).

Question 4

Where is the word for "it" in faz sol?

Accepted Answer

In English, we use "it" as a placeholder subject for the weather, like "it is sunny". In Portuguese, weather verbs do not need a subject at all. You just use the verb on its own without translating the word "it".

Na primavera faz sol.

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