Question 1

Why is there an A before minha irmã?

Accepted Answer

In European Portuguese, we usually put a definite article (o or a) before a possessive word like minha (my). Because irmã (sister) is a feminine word, we use a minha irmã.

Question 2

How would I say "my twin brother" based on this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You would change the feminine words to masculine: O meu irmão gémeo. The adjective gémea (twin) must agree with the gender of the noun it describes and comes directly after it.

Question 3

Could I use vive instead of mora here?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Morar and viver both mean "to live" and are often used interchangeably when talking about where someone resides. Morar specifically means to reside or dwell, while viver is broader and can also mean to be alive. For cities, both are perfectly fine.

Question 4

Why do we say em Lisboa instead of na Lisboa?

Accepted Answer

Most cities and towns in Portuguese do not take a definite article, so we just use the plain preposition em (in). If it were a place that requires a definite article, like the city of Porto (o Porto), it would combine to make no Porto (em + o). But Lisbon is simply em Lisboa.

A minha irmã gémea mora em Lisboa.

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