Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Meto a chave na porta.

Meto a chave na porta.

I put the key in the door.

Breakdown of Meto a chave na porta.

a chave

the key

in the / on the / at the (f.sg)

Questions & Answers about Meto a chave na porta.

Why use meto instead of ponho or coloco for "I put"?

The verb meter specifically means to insert, stick into, or put inside something. Since you are inserting the key into the lock of the door, meter is the most natural verb to use here, rather than the more general pôr or colocar.

Where is the word "I" in this sentence?

In Portuguese, the pronoun eu (I) is usually left out because the verb ending already tells us who is doing the action. The verb form meto only ever goes with eu, so saying Eu meto a chave is unnecessary unless you really want to emphasize that you are the one doing it.

Why is it na porta (in the door) instead of just em porta?

In Portuguese, you almost always need to include the word for "the" when talking about specific objects. Here, the preposition em (in/on) merges with the feminine word for "the", which is a. Together, em + a combine to make the single word na.

Does porta mean "lock" or "door"?