How to Say ‘Excuse me, why are you going down this street?’ in Portuguese
Desculpe, porque é que está a ir por esta rua?
desh-KOOL-peh pur-KEH eh keh sh-TAH uh eer poor ESH-tuh ROO-uh
[desh-KOOL-peh pur-KEH eh keh sh-TAH uh eer poor ESH-tuh ROO-uh]
💬 Usage Tip: [Porque é que] is a very common way to ask [why] in European Portuguese. The full pattern is easy to reuse: [Porque é que está a ir por aqui?] [Porque é que parou?].
🇵🇹 In Portugal: This is direct, but still acceptable if your tone stays calm and [Desculpe] comes first. With a taxi driver in Portugal, sounding controlled matters more than making the wording extra soft.
Phrase Breakdown
Desculpe
[desh-KOOL-peh]
Excuse me / sorry
A polite opener used before questioning or correcting someone.
Desculpe, porque está a virar aqui?
Excuse me, why are you turning here?
Porque é que
pur-KEH eh keh
Why
Common spoken form used to ask for a reason in European Portuguese.
Porque é que está aqui?
Why are you here?
Words in this phrase
porque
[pur-KEH]
why / because
Here 'porque' is used in a question and, with 'é que', means 'why'.
porque é que escolheu este caminho?
why did you choose this route?
é
[eh]
is
Part of the fixed expression 'é que' used to ask a more natural or emphatic question.
porque é que é tão demorado?
why is it so time-consuming?
que
[keh]
that
In 'é que', this word helps build a common spoken question pattern.
porque é que estamos parados?
why are we stopped?
Está a ir
sh-TAH uh eer
Are you going
Present continuous in European Portuguese, formed with 'estar a' + infinitive.
Está a ir para casa.
You are going home.
Words in this phrase
está
[sh-TAH]
is / are
From 'estar'; used for what is happening right now.
O carro está na rua errada.
The car is on the wrong street.
a
[uh]
to
Used before an infinitive in European Portuguese to show an ongoing action.
Ele está a mudar de direção.
He is changing direction.
ir
[eer]
go
Verb meaning 'to go'; with 'está a', it means 'is going'.
O táxi vai ir por outra avenida.
The taxi is going to go by another avenue.
Por esta rua
poor ESH-tuh ROO-uh
Down this street / along this street
Used to indicate the route or direction taken along a particular street.
Siga por esta rua.
Go along this street.
Words in this phrase
por
[poor]
through / along / by
Shows the route or place someone is moving through.
Não passe por ruas pequenas.
Don't go through small streets.
esta
[ESH-tuh]
this
Feminine demonstrative matching the noun 'rua'.
esta rua parece mais lenta.
this street seems slower.
rua
[ROO-uh]
street
A city street or road.
rua estreita não é a melhor opção.
a narrow street is not the best option.
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