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Prepositions & Contractions

Preposições e Contrações

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Key Concept

Small words glue together. When the preposition em (in/at) meets a definite article (o or a), they contract into a single word. You cannot say 'em o' — it must become 'no'.
粵

Cantonese Speaker Tip

廣東話介詞唔會和其他字縮合，但葡文會！de + o = do, em + a = na——介詞和冠詞黏埋一起。

譓廣東話：「在」= em，「嘅」= de。 「我住在波圖」= Moro no Porto（em + o 縮合）。 澳門人會熟悉很多葡文地名！

The preposition em (in, at, on) contracts with all four definite articles. Cities without articles use em directly (em Lisboa), but cities with articles require the contraction (no Porto). Streets and other nouns always use articles.

Key Phrase — Try saying it!

Moro no Porto.

Preposition Contractions (Em + Article)

CombinationResultExample
em + o
em + a
em + os
em + as universidades.

City Names

Most city names (like Lisboa, Coimbra) do NOT take an article — use em directly: 'Moro em Lisboa.' However, some cities like Porto and Rio de Janeiro require the article: 'Moro no Porto.'

Examples

I live in Lisbon. (city without article)
You live in Porto. (em + o Porto = no Porto)
She lives in Coimbra. (city without article)
We live in Madeira. (em + a Madeira = na Madeira)
They live in the Azores. (em + os Açores = nos Açores)
I live on Rua do Alecrim. (em + a rua = na rua)
I live in a small house. (em + uma = numa)
I work at the hospital. (em + o = no)
Do you work at the school? (em + a = na)
She works in a restaurant. (em + um = num)
We work in the city centre.
They work in the shops. (em + as = nas)
estudo
I study at the university. (em + a = na)
We study in Coimbra. (city without article)
They study in the library. (em + a = na)
I have lunch at the office. (em + o = no)
Do you have lunch at home?
We have lunch in the canteen. (em + a = na)
You all live in Faro. (city without article)
He works and studies in Porto. (em + o = no)
I like living in Lisbon.
She lives on Avenida da Liberdade.
They live on the outskirts of Lisbon.
I work in a bank in the centre.
He studies in a public school.
Where do you live? (informal)
I live at number fourteen.
She lives in the city.
They live in the countryside.
We study in the best schools.
Preposições e Contrações — Summary of Preposition Contractionsem + artigo definidoem+o→no(masc. sg.)em+a→na(fem. sg.)em+os→nos(masc. pl.)em+as→nas(fem. pl.)ExamplesMoro no Porto— I live in Porto(em + o = no)Moro na Rua do Alecrim— I live on Rua do Alecrim(em + a = na)City RuleCities without article: use em directly →em Lisboa, em CoimbraCities with article: use contraction →no Porto, no Rio
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