What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of como (how), dizer (to say), isto (this), em (in) and português (Portuguese).
Which one should you use?
The word isto refers specifically to something close to the speaker. You can use isso to refer to something the listener just said or something that is slightly further away.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Replacing isto with isso in the phrase como se diz isso em português makes the expression sound more natural and conversational in everyday spoken Portuguese. For a more formal approach, you can use Poderia me ajudar com a tradução dessa palavra? to ask "Could you help me with the translation of this word?" In informal settings, you might say Como fala isso em português? or Me ajuda com essa palavra em português?
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the reflexive pronoun se to create como se diz isto em português creates a more natural, impersonal way to ask "how is this said in Portuguese".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkõ.mu dʒiˈze(ʁ) ˈis.tu ẽj̃ poʁ.tuˈɡe(j)s/. The word has 7 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word português is actually linked to the city of Porto. It derives from the Late Latin term portucalēnsis, which refers to the people of 'Portus Cale', the ancient name for the area surrounding Oporto.
- The distinction between isto and isso can be psychological. A speaker might use isso to distance themselves from an idea or a word they find strange, even if the object is physically close.
- In Brazil, using the verb falar in the phrase como fala isso is so common that using dizer can sometimes make a speaker sound like they are reading from a textbook.
Examples in context
- Com licença, você poderia me dizer como se diz "obrigado" em português?Excuse me, could you please tell me how to say "thank you" in Portuguese?
- Ei, estou tentando aprender português. Como fala "gato" em português?Hey, I'm trying to learn Portuguese. How do you say "cat" in Portuguese?
- Eu não sei como dizer isto em português.I don't know how to say this in Portuguese.
- Você sabe como dizer isto em português?Do you know how to say this in Portuguese?
Example conversation
Mariana is pointing at an object and asking Felipe for the word.
- MarianaFelipe, como dizer isto em português?Felipe, how to say this in Portuguese?
- FelipeIsto se chama caneta, Mariana.This is called a pen, Mariana.
- MarianaAh, entendi! Muito obrigada.Ah, I see! Thank you very much.
- FelipeDe nada, Mariana!You're welcome, Mariana!
