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How to Say ‘The meter keeps running’ in Portuguese

O taxímetro continua a contar

oo tak-SEE-meh-troo kohn-TEE-noo-ah ah kohn-TAR

[oo tak-SEE-meh-troo kohn-TEE-noo-ah ah kohn-TAR]

💬 Usage Tip: In Portugal, an ongoing action uses a + the basic verb form: continua a contar, estou a esperar "I'm waiting".

Phrase Breakdown

O taxímetro

oo tak-SEE-meh-troo

The taxi meter

'O' is the article 'the' and sounds like 'u'. In 'taxímetro', the 'x' sounds like 'ks' and the stress falls on 'xí': tak-SI-me-tru.

Example

O taxímetro está ligado.

The taxi meter is on.

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the

A masculine singular definite article used before nouns.

Example

O prazer de participar foi grande.

The pleasure of taking part was great.

taxímetro

[tak-SEE-meh-troo]

taxi meter

Device that calculates a taxi fare.

Example

O taxímetro marca dez euros.

The meter shows ten euros.

continua a contar

kohn-TEE-noo-ah ah kohn-TAR

keeps running

'Continuar a' + verb means 'to keep doing' something. Say con-ti-NU-a-con-TAR, linking the two 'a' sounds.

Example

Ela continua a trabalhar.

She keeps working.

Words in this phrase

continua

[kohn-TEE-noo-ah]

continues / keeps on

Form of 'continuar'; with 'a' + infinitive it means something keeps happening.

Example

A chuva continua a cair.

The rain keeps falling.

[ah]

In European Portuguese, this particle is used with an infinitive to show an ongoing action.

Example

Estou a aprender novas estratégias de networking.

I am learning new networking strategies.

contar

[kohn-TAR]

to count / running

Verb meaning to count; also to tell a story.

Example

Ele sabe contar até cem.

He can count to a hundred.

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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