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Ela sabe ler português.

Ela sabe ler português.
She can read Portuguese.
From Lesson 49:Advice and ability: dever and saber·Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Ela sabe ler português.

português
Portuguese
ela
she
ler
to read
saber
to know

Questions & Answers about Ela sabe ler português.

Why is sabe used here to mean 'can'? Why not use pode?
In Portuguese, we use saber (to know) when talking about a learned skill or knowing how to do something. Since reading is a learned skill, we use sabe. We use poder (to be able to) for permission or physical possibility, like if she has the free time or the right glasses to read right now.
Do I need a word for 'how to', like 'Ela sabe como ler'?
No, you do not need to add como (how) here. In Portuguese, simply putting a form of saber right before another verb in its dictionary form (like ler) automatically translates to 'knows how to' do that action.
Why does ler stay in its dictionary form instead of matching 'Ela'?
Ler is the infinitive form of the verb, which means 'to read'. When you use two verbs together in this way, only the first verb (sabe) changes to match the person doing the action. The second verb (ler) stays exactly as you would find it in the dictionary.
Why isn't the word português capitalized?
Unlike in English, names of languages, days of the week, and nationalities are written with lowercase letters in Portuguese, unless they are the very first word in a sentence.

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