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How to Say ‘Are you always this tough on strangers?’ in Portuguese

És sempre tão difícil com estranhos?

esh SEHNG-pruh towng dee-FEE-seel kohng ush-TRAH-nyoosh

[esh SEHNG-pruh towng dee-FEE-seel kohng ush-TRAH-nyoosh]

Phrase Breakdown

És sempre

esh SEHNG-pruh

Are you always

Say this as a question with rising intonation. The informal 'és' sounds like 'esh'.

Example

És sempre assim?

Are you always like this?

Words in this phrase

És

[esh]

you are

2nd person singular of "ser" (tu). Used when addressing someone informally (common in Portugal).

Example

És muito simpática por explicares como funciona o metro.

You’re very nice for explaining how the metro works.

sempre

[SEHNG-pruh]

always

Adverb meaning 'always'.

Example

Há sempre espaço para aprender mais sobre a empresa.

There is always room to learn more about the company.

tão difícil

towng dee-FEE-seel

so difficult

Make the 'ão' nasal, and stress the 'fí' syllable: 'dee-FEE-seel'.

Example

Não é tão difícil.

It's not that difficult.

Words in this phrase

tão

[towng]

Used before an adjective to mean so or such.

Example

Tão intensifica em “Que roupa tão gira.”

So intensifies in “What lovely clothes.”

difícil

[dee-FEE-seel]

difficult

Adjective: hard, difficult; of people, hard to deal with.

Example

Este teste é difícil.

This test is difficult.

com estranhos?

kohng ush-TRAH-nyoosh

with strangers?

'Com' (with) links smoothly into 'estranhos'. In European Portuguese the 'es' sounds like 'sh', so the phrase sounds like 'kõ shTRA-nyoosh'.

Example

Não fales com estranhos.

Don't talk to strangers.

Words in this phrase

com

[kohng]

with

Preposition used to connect an idea to a quality, person, or thing.

Example

Com experiência internacional, o candidato destaca-se mais.

With international experience, the candidate stands out more.

estranhos

[ush-TRAH-nyoosh]

strangers

Plural noun for people you don't know.

Example

Não fales com estranhos.

Don't talk to strangers.

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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