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How to Say ‘I could already pass for a Lisboner’ in Portuguese

Já passava por lisboeta

zhah puh-SAH-vuh poor leezh-BWEH-tuh

[zhah puh-SAH-vuh poor leezh-BWEH-tuh]

Phrase Breakdown

Já passava

zhah puh-SAH-vuh

I already passed

'Passava' is the imperfect tense of 'passar'. Stress falls on 'sa'.

Example

Já passava das dez.

It was already past ten.

Words in this phrase

Já

[zhah]

already

Indicates something happening sooner than expected or anticipated.

Example

Eu já terminei o jantar.

I already finished dinner.

passava

[puh-SAH-vuh]

passed (as)

From 'passar'; 'passar por' means to pass for someone.

Example

Ele passava por turista.

He passed for a tourist.

por lisboeta

poor leezh-BWEH-tuh

for a Lisboner

'Passar por' means 'to pass as'. 'Lisboeta' is a person from Lisbon, with stress on 'bo'.

Example

Ela é lisboeta de gema.

She's a Lisboner born and bred.

Words in this phrase

por

[poor]

by / for

In the fixed expression 'por favor,' it helps form the meaning 'please'.

Example

Por favor, confirme a reserva.

Please confirm the reservation.

lisboeta

[leezh-BWEH-tuh]

Lisbon native

Person from Lisbon.

Example

A minha mãe é lisboeta.

My mother is from Lisbon.

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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