Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Ele vem cá amanhã.

Ele vem cá amanhã.

He is coming here tomorrow.

Breakdown of Ele vem cá amanhã.

here (my side, loosely)

Questions & Answers about Ele vem cá amanhã.

Why does the translation say "is coming" when vem is in the simple present tense?

In Portuguese, it is very common to use the simple present tense to talk about planned events in the near future. Because of the word amanhã (tomorrow), we know this is a future plan. You don't need a special "is coming" or "will come" verb form here; the simple present vem does the job perfectly.

What is the difference between cá and aqui? Don't both mean "here"?

Yes, both mean "here", but they are used slightly differently. Aqui usually points to an exact, specific spot ("right here"). Cá is a bit broader ("over here") and is traditionally used with verbs of movement, like vir (to come). When someone is coming to where you are, you will almost always hear vem cá.

What verb does vem come from?

Vem is the "he/she/it" form of the verb vir, which means "to come". It is a highly irregular verb, meaning it doesn't follow the normal pattern for verbs ending in -ir. For example, the "I" form is venho (I come).

How do you pronounce the end of the word amanhã?

The nh combination in Portuguese sounds a lot like the "ni" in the English word "onion". The tilde over the ã tells you it is a nasal sound, meaning the air flows out through your nose. It sounds a bit like "nyang", but without pronouncing a hard "g" at the end.