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How to Say ‘Something special’ in Portuguese

Alguma coisa em especial

ahl-GOO-muh KOY-zuh ehm shpeh-SYAHL

[ahl-GOO-muh KOY-zuh ehm shpeh-SYAHL]

Phrase Breakdown

Alguma coisa

ahl-GOO-muh KOY-zuh

Something / anything

Literally 'some thing'. Say it smoothly: 'al-GOO-muh KOY-zuh'.

Example

Precisa de alguma coisa?

Do you need anything?

Words in this phrase

Alguma

[ahl-GOO-muh]

any / some

Feminine form of 'algum', used before feminine nouns; in questions it means 'any'.

Example

Tem alguma pergunta?

Do you have any question?

coisa

[KOY-zuh]

thing

A general feminine noun for an object or matter.

Example

Quero uma coisa doce.

I want something sweet.

em especial

ehm shpeh-SYAHL

in particular / special

'Em' is nasal and links to the next word. The first 'e' of 'especial' is almost silent: 'ãin shp'-SYAL'.

Example

Não quero nada em especial.

I don't want anything in particular.

Words in this phrase

[ehm]

Used to indicate inclusion within space or limits.

Example

Está em casa.

It's in the house.

especial

[shpeh-SYAHL]

special

'Em especial' means in particular, something special.

Example

Hoje é um dia especial.

Today is a special day.

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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