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How to Say ‘Did it take a long time to do?’ in Portuguese

Demorou muito tempo a fazer?

deh-moh-ROH MWEEN-too TEM-poo ah fa-ZEHR

[deh-moh-ROH MWEEN-too TEM-poo ah fa-ZEHR]

💬 Usage Tip: In Portugal, a + the plain verb links an action: a fazer "to do". You'll see the same pattern in estou a adorar "I'm loving it".

Phrase Breakdown

Demorou muito tempo

deh-moh-ROH MWEEN-too TEM-poo

It took a long time

Past tense of 'demorar' plus 'muito tempo' (a lot of time). 'Muito' has a nasal sound: 'MWEEN-too'.

Example

O jantar demorou muito tempo.

Dinner took a long time.

Words in this phrase

Demorou

[deh-moh-ROH]

did it take (long)

Past tense of 'demorar', to take time or delay.

Example

O autocarro demorou muito.

The bus took a long time.

muito

[MWEEN-too]

much

Intensifies comparatives like 'melhor'.

Example

Está muito mais frio hoje.

It's much colder today.

tempo

[TEM-poo]

time

Refers to the other person's availability or minutes spent with you.

Example

Agradeci o «tempo» que dedicou à nossa conversa.

I thanked the “time” that you dedicated to our conversation.

a fazer?

ah fa-ZEHR

to make?

In European Portuguese, 'a' plus an infinitive expresses the action. The 'e' is weak, so it sounds like 'a fuh-ZEHR'.

Example

Demorei uma hora a fazer o bolo.

It took me an hour to make the cake.

Words in this phrase

[ah]

Preposition marking who a greeting is aimed at.

Example

Boa tarde a todos.

Good afternoon to everyone.

fazer

[fa-ZEHR]

to do

To perform an action or task.

Example

Preciso fazer o trabalho.

I need to do the work.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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