Unit 1 — Lesson 5
Professions
Profissões
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Key Concept
Profession nouns in Portuguese are preceded by the definite article (o/a) and change form based on the gender of the person. This is different from English, where we say 'I am a teacher' without articles varying by gender.
There are four definite articles: o (masc. sg.), a (fem. sg.), os (masc. pl.), as (fem. pl.). Profession nouns follow specific patterns for gender change. Some professions are the same for both genders.
Key Phrase — Try saying it!
Qual é a sua profissão?
Definite Articles
o
the (masculine singular)a
the (feminine singular)os
the (masculine plural)as
the (feminine plural)Profession Gender Rules
| # | Rule | Masculine | Feminine | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -or → -ora | o professor | a professora | teacher |
| 2 | -o → -a | o médico | a médica | doctor |
| 3 | -ista (same for both genders) | o jornalista | a jornalista | journalist |
| 4 | -e (same for both genders) | o estudante | a estudante | student |
Examples
Eu sou o professor.
I am the teacher. (male)Ela é a médica.
She is the doctor.Ele é jornalista.
He is a journalist.Qual é a sua profissão?
What is your profession?Sou estudante.
I am a student.Practice Time