Unit 1 — Lesson 8
Question Words
Interrogativos
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Key Concept
Portuguese question words (interrogatives) are placed at the beginning of the sentence. Unlike English, Portuguese does not use auxiliary verbs like 'do/does' to form questions — word order and intonation do the work.
Each question word serves a specific function. In spoken Portuguese, you can also form yes/no questions simply by using rising intonation at the end of a statement.
Key Phrase — Try saying it!
Como te chamas?
Quem?Who?
Quem é?
Who is it?Como?How? / What (for names)?
Como te chamas?
What is your name?Onde?Where?
Onde mora?
Where do you live?Quantos / Quantas?How many?
Quantos anos tem?
How old are you? (lit. How many years do you have?)Qual?Which? / What?
Qual é a profissão?
What is the profession?O que?What?
O que faz?
What do you do?De onde?From where?
De onde é?
Where are you from?Practice Time