How to Say ‘My mother uses a wheelchair.’ in Portuguese
A minha mãe anda de cadeira de rodas.
ah MEE-nyah mah-ee AHN-dah deh kah-DAY-rah duh ROH-dahsh
[ah MEE-nyah mah-ee AHN-dah deh kah-DAY-rah duh ROH-dahsh]
💬 Usage Tip: andar de + a vehicle means getting around by it, so anda de cadeira de rodas is the natural way to say someone uses a wheelchair. Same pattern: anda de autocarro "goes by bus".
Phrase Breakdown
A minha mãe
ah MEE-nyah mah-ee
My mother
The subject. Keep the article 'a' with 'minha mãe'.
A minha mãe vem jantar.
My mother is coming to dinner.
Words in this phrase
A
[ah]
the (feminine singular)
Same article "a" used before a feminine noun; often unstressed in speech.
A estação é ali à direita.
The station is right there on the right.
minha
[MEE-nyah]
my
Possessive adjective showing something belongs to the speaker.
A minha experiência no evento foi positiva.
My experience at the event was positive.
mãe
[mah-ee]
Mother
A woman in relation to her child or children.
Ela é uma mãe amorosa.
She is a loving mother.
anda de cadeira de rodas.
AHN-dah deh kah-DAY-rah duh ROH-dahsh
uses a wheelchair
'Andar de' means 'to get around by'. Say 'AN-da d' ka-DAY-ra d' RRO-dash'.
Ele anda de bicicleta.
He rides a bicycle.
Words in this phrase
anda
[AHN-dah]
gets around / moves
From 'andar'; 'andar de' means to get around using a means of transport.
Ele anda de bicicleta.
He rides a bike.
de
[deh]
by / in (means)
Preposition indicating the means used to move.
Vou de comboio.
I'm going by train.
cadeira
[kah-DAY-rah]
chair
Feminine noun for a seat; 'cadeira de rodas' is a wheelchair.
A cadeira está livre.
The chair is free.
de
[duh]
of
A preposition meaning "of" or "for," depending on context.
Falámos de carreira durante o intervalo.
We talked about career matters during the break.
rodas
[ROH-dahsh]
wheels
Plural of 'roda', wheel.
O carro tem quatro rodas.
The car has four wheels.
Guides for Portuguese learners
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Lessons for Your Situation
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lisbon with zero Portuguese and honestly thought I’d be pointing at menus forever. Three weeks in and I’m having real conversations with my landlord.”
Priya N., 35, Freelance Designer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer