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How to Say ‘But I didn't think you'd be so brown!’ in Portuguese

Mas não achei que você fosse tão moreno!

mahs naw ah-SHAY keh voh-SEH foh-seh tohwng mohr-REH-no

[mahs naw ah-SHAY keh voh-SEH foh-seh tohwng mohr-REH-no]

💬 Usage Tip: Achei que você fosse is a very common pattern for 'I thought you were/would be...' after achei que. You can reuse it with other verbs too: Achei que ele soubesse, Achei que chovesse.

Phrase Breakdown

Mas

[mahs]

But

Introduces a contrast or exception.

Example

Ele queria sair, mas choveu.

He wanted to go out, but it rained.

não

[naw]

not

Negation.

Example

Ela não quer ir.

She does not want to go.

achei

[ah-SHAY]

thought

Past tense of think.

Example

Achei que já tivesse terminado.

I thought it was already finished.

que

[keh]

that

Used to introduce a clause.

Example

Achei que ele viria.

I thought that he would come.

você

[voh-SEH]

you

Refers to the person being addressed.

Example

Você parece cansado.

You look tired.

fosse

[foh-seh]

were

Past tense of be.

Example

Ele achou que fosse brincadeira.

He thought it was a joke.

tão

[tohwng]

To such a great extent.

Example

Ela estava tão feliz!

She was so happy!

moreno

[mohr-REH-no]

dark-skinned

Having a dark complexion.

Example

Ele não parecia tão moreno na foto.

He didn't seem so dark-skinned in the photo.

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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