😓❓🛣️🔄

How to Say ‘Sorry, but are we taking the Segunda Circular?’ in Portuguese

Desculpe, mas estamos a ir pela Segunda Circular?

desh-KOOL-puh mahsh sh-TAH-moosh ah eer PEH-lah seh-GOON-dah seer-koo-LAR

[desh-KOOL-puh mahsh sh-TAH-moosh ah eer PEH-lah seh-GOON-dah seer-koo-LAR]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: The Segunda Circular is Lisbon's ring road, notorious for jams. Asking about it is a common way to check a driver isn't taking a longer route.

Phrase Breakdown

Desculpe,

desh-KOOL-puh

Excuse me,

Polite formal apology or attention-getter. The first 'e' is barely heard: 'dsh-KOOL-p'.

Example

Desculpe, onde fica a estação?

Excuse me, where is the station?

Words in this phrase

Desculpe

[desh-KOOL-puh]

sorry / excuse me

A polite way to apologize or get someone's attention.

Example

Desculpe, onde fica a estação?

Excuse me, where is the station?

mas estamos a ir

mahsh sh-TAH-moosh ah eer

but are we going

'Estar a + infinitive' is the European Portuguese way to say something is happening now. 'Mas estamos' links as 'mazh-shTA-mush'.

Example

Estamos a ir para casa.

We are going home.

Words in this phrase

mas

[mahsh]

but

Used to introduce a condition or playful twist, often teasing in a flirty way.

Example

Mas não penses que me convences assim tão facilmente.

But don’t think you can convince me that easily.

estamos

[sh-TAH-moosh]

we are

"Estamos" is the first person plural of "estar," used for states or situations.

Example

Estamos num evento para conhecer recrutadores.

We are at an event to meet recruiters.

[ah]

(progressive marker)

In European Portuguese, 'estar a + infinitive' means doing something right now.

Example

Estou a comer.

I am eating.

[eer]

to go

The verb used to talk about moving from one place to another.

Example

Podemos ir para um canto mais calmo.

We can go to a quieter corner.

pela Segunda Circular?

PEH-lah seh-GOON-dah seer-koo-LAR

along the Segunda Circular?

'Pela' (por + a) means 'along' or 'via'. The Segunda Circular is a major Lisbon ring road. Let your voice rise at the end for the question.

Example

Vamos pela Segunda Circular.

We're going via the Segunda Circular.

Words in this phrase

pela

[PEH-lah]

Through the

Used to indicate movement within an area.

Example

Caminhamos pela cidade inteira.

We walked through the entire city.

Segunda

[seh-GOON-dah]

second

Feminine form of 'segundo', the ordinal number two.

Example

É a segunda porta.

It's the second door.

Circular

[seer-koo-LAR]

ring road

With 'Segunda', the name of Lisbon's Second Ring Road; also means 'circular'.

Example

A Circular tem muito trânsito.

The ring road has a lot of traffic.

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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