Phrase · 🥊 Arguing & persuading
Nem tanto ao mar, nem tanto à terra.
Let's not go to either extreme.
C1expressing attitudeslearned as a wholeAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Nem1conjunctionneithertanto1adverbso muchao2prepositionto thea+o · masc. · sing. · definitemar1nounseamasc. · sing.,nem1conjunctionnortanto1adverbso muchà2prepositionto thea+a · fem. · sing. · definiteterra1nounlandfem. · sing..
- Nem → terra: proverb
- Nem → nem: nem … nem
Word for word: “Neither so much to the sea, nor so much to the land.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1A proverb calling for a middle ground between two extremes.
- 2Masculine ao mar, feminine à terra (crase).