Phrase · 📇 Personal information
Qual é o seu sobrenome? — É Oliveira.
What’s your last name? — It’s Oliveira.
A1asking someone’s surnameAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Qual1pronounwhat (which)sing.éverbisser · present · 3rd sing.odeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definiteseu2determineryourmasc. · sing.sobrenome3nounlast namemasc. · sing.?—É4verbit’sser · present · 3rd sing.OliveiranounOliveira.
- seu → sobrenome: agrees (m.)
- Qual → sobrenome: qual … sobrenome
- É → Oliveira: é + answer
Word for word: “Which is the your surname? — (It) is Oliveira.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Qual é…? asks for a piece of information: a name, a number, an address. Questions & question words (incl. cadê) →
- 2seu = your (with você); it agrees with masculine sobrenome. Possessives & the dele/dela fix →
- 3sobrenome = last name. Many Brazilians have two: the mother’s, then the father’s.
- 4No word for "it": É Oliveira = it’s Oliveira. ser & estar: forms and core uses →
Variations
- E o seu sobrenome?
- Qual é o seu nome completo?
- Meu sobrenome é Oliveira.