💰❌🤒

How to Say ‘The poor and the sick’ in Portuguese

Os pobres e os doentes

oosh POH-brees ee oosh doo-EN-tesh

[oosh POH-brees ee oosh doo-EN-tesh]

💬 Usage Tip: Describing words can become nouns for a whole group when you put os in front: pobre "poor" becomes os pobres "the poor". Same with os idosos "the elderly".

Phrase Breakdown

Os pobres

oosh POH-brees

The poor

'Os' before 'p' sounds like 'ush'. 'Pobres' has the stress on 'PO', and the final 'es' is reduced to almost 'brsh'.

Example

Os pobres precisam de ajuda.

The poor need help.

Words in this phrase

[oosh]

the

Masculine plural definite article, used before masculine plural nouns.

Example

Os gestores falaram sobre os valores da empresa.

The managers talked about the company's values.

pobres

[POH-brees]

poor

Lacking sufficient money or means.

Example

Ele é um homem pobre.

He is a poor man.

e os doentes

ee oosh doo-EN-tesh

and the sick

'E os' blends into roughly 'iuj' before the 'd'. 'Doentes' is 'du-ÊN-tsh', with a nasal stressed syllable.

Example

Visitamos os idosos e os doentes.

We visit the elderly and the sick.

Words in this phrase

[ee]

and

A simple connector joining two qualities or ideas.

Example

Procuro um ambiente aberto e humano.

I am looking for an open and human environment.

[oosh]

the

Masculine plural definite article, used before masculine plural nouns.

Example

Os gestores falaram sobre os valores da empresa.

The managers talked about the company's values.

doentes

[doo-EN-tesh]

sick people

Plural of 'doente', the sick or ill.

Example

O médico visita os doentes.

The doctor visits the sick.

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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