How to Say ‘What's the matter?’ in Portuguese
O que se passa?
oh keh seh PAH-sah
[oh keh seh PAH-sah]
Phrase Breakdown
O que
oh keh
What
A common question opener. It sounds like 'u kə', run together as one unit.
O que é isto?
What is this?
Words in this phrase
O
[oh]
what
Used to refer to a thing or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
O que é isso?
What is this?
que
[keh]
what
With 'o' it forms 'o que', meaning 'what'.
O que quer comer?
What do you want to eat?
se passa?
seh PAH-sah
is happening?
'Passar-se' means 'to happen'. Say it 'sə PA-sa', with the stress on 'PA'.
Passa-se alguma coisa?
Is something going on?
Words in this phrase
se
[seh]
(impersonal particle)
Used with 'passa' to mean 'is happening'.
O que se passa aqui?
What's going on here?
passa
[PAH-sah]
is happening
From 'passar'; 'passar-se' means to happen or go on.
Não sei o que se passa.
I don't know what's going on.
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