Learn Portuguese (Portugal): O carro tem uma avaria, por isso ele acaba por ficar no albergue. - The car has a breakdown, therefore he ends up staying in the hostel.

O carro tem uma avaria, por isso ele acaba por ficar no albergue.

The car has a breakdown, therefore he ends up staying in the hostel.

Breakdown of O carro tem uma avaria, por isso ele acaba por ficar no albergue.

a / an / some (all forms)

Questions & Answers about O carro tem uma avaria, por isso ele acaba por ficar no albergue.

Why do we use acaba por ficar here instead of just saying he stays?

The phrase acabar por followed by an infinitive (like ficar) is a verbal periphrasis that translates to "to end up doing something." It shows that staying in the hostel wasn't his original plan, but it became the final result after the car broke down.

Does the word avaria only apply to cars?

No, avaria is a very useful word in Portugal for any mechanical or electrical fault, breakdown, or damage. You will hear it used for cars, but also for broken household appliances, elevators, or computers.

Is por isso the most natural way to say "therefore" or "so" in this sentence?

Yes, por isso (literally "for that") is extremely common in everyday Portuguese to link a cause and a result, just like "so" or "therefore" in English. Another good option here would be portanto.

I often see the English word "hostel" used in Portugal. Is an albergue different?

Both words are used, but they have slightly different vibes. "Hostel" is widely used in Portugal for modern, tourist-focused backpacker accommodation. Albergue is the traditional Portuguese word; it can refer to a pilgrim's hostel (like on the Camino de Santiago), a general shelter, or a more traditional youth hostel.