Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Apesar da grande paixão, receamos que a relação seja uma desilusão. - Despite the great passion, we fear that the relationship is a disappointment.

seja is the present subjunctive form of ser (to be). We must use the subjunctive here because the main verb receamos (we fear) expresses an emotion. Whenever you express a feeling or emotion about a secondary action, the verb in the following que clause needs to be in the subjunctive.

Wait, does desilusão mean delusion?

It looks like a false friend! While it can mean disillusionment, desilusão is the most common Portuguese word for a disappointment. If you want to talk about a medical or psychological delusion, you would typically use delírio.

Why is the word da used after Apesar?

The Portuguese expression for 'despite' or 'in spite of' is always apesar de. In this sentence, it is followed by the specific noun phrase a grande paixão (the great passion). The preposition de merges with the feminine article a to create the contraction da.

Why does the adjective grande come before the noun paixão?

While most adjectives follow the noun in Portuguese, grande frequently comes before the noun when it describes a figurative, emotional, or subjective greatness rather than a literal physical size.