q
q is an informal abbreviation for the Portuguese word 'que'.
q is used as a shorthand for 'que' primarily in digital communication such as text messaging and social media.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
q is an informal form used in casual digital environments like WhatsApp or Twitter. It is considered incorrect in formal writing, where the full word 'que' should be used.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use q in formal writing. Instead, use the full word 'que'.
Did you know?
- Because q is so ubiquitous in texting, some Portuguese speakers find it jarring to see the full word que in a very casual WhatsApp message, as it can sometimes appear overly formal or aggressive.
- In some regions of Brazil, the spoken version of que is so shortened that it sounds like a quick k sound, making the written q a phonetic representation rather than just a spelling shortcut.
- The use of q is part of a broader trend in Portuguese digital culture called 'internetês', which includes other surprising shortcuts like replacing você with vc.
Examples in context
- QuandoWhen
- quartoRoom
- quenteHot
- QueroI want
- qualquerAny
- queijoCheese
- O q vc quer?What do you want?
- Diz q vc vai.Say that you are going.
- Eu sei q é difícil.I know that it is difficult.
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are texting each other on their phones.
- RodrigoVc viu q o filme mudou?Did you see that the movie changed?
- MarianaNão vi, q horas?I didn't see, at what time?
- RodrigoÀs oito, q tal?At eight, how about it?
- MarianaCombinado, Rodrigo!Deal, Rodrigo!
