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A1 noun #2,600 más común 8 min de lectura

esquerda

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos esquerda en 30 segundos
Explicación esquerda in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'esquerda' is a vital survival word. You will use it primarily for following or giving simple directions. You need to know 'à esquerda' (to the left) and 'vire à esquerda' (turn left). At this stage, don't worry about complex political meanings. Focus on identifying your left hand ('mão esquerda') and understanding when a GPS tells you where to go. You should be able to recognize the word in a sentence like 'A casa é à esquerda'. The main challenge is remembering that it ends in 'a' and is usually preceded by 'à' with an accent when indicating direction. You should also learn to distinguish it from 'direita' (right) so you don't end up lost. Simple exercises like pointing to objects on your left and saying 'está à esquerda' are very helpful here.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'esquerda' to describe the relative position of objects in more detail. You will use phrases like 'à esquerda de...' (to the left of...). For example, 'O banco está à esquerda do supermercado'. You also start to encounter the masculine form 'esquerdo' when it describes masculine nouns like 'lado' (side) or 'olho' (eye). You should be comfortable using it in the past tense, such as 'Eu virei à esquerda na rua errada' (I turned left on the wrong street). This level also introduces the basic idea that 'a esquerda' can refer to a political group, though you don't need to discuss deep theory yet. You might see it in simple news headlines about 'partidos de esquerda'.
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At the B1 level, you move beyond physical directions into more abstract and idiomatic uses. You should be able to use the expression 'começar com o pé esquerdo' (to start with the left foot/get off on the wrong foot) in a conversation about a bad day or a failed project. Your understanding of political 'esquerda' should become more nuanced; you can describe a politician as 'de esquerda' and understand the general social implications of that label. You will also encounter 'esquerda' in more complex grammatical structures, such as 'Se tivesses virado à esquerda, terias chegado a tempo' (If you had turned left, you would have arrived on time). You should also be aware of the word 'canhoto' for left-handed people.
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At the B2 level, you can participate in debates about 'a esquerda' and 'a direita' in a political sense. You understand terms like 'centro-esquerda' and can discuss the history of these movements in Lusophone countries like Brazil or Portugal. You are comfortable with the word in professional contexts, such as describing a 'sinistro' in an insurance claim (even though it's a different meaning, it's related to the root of 'left'). You can use 'esquerda' in complex descriptions of art or architecture, such as 'A composição enfatiza o lado esquerdo da tela'. Your use of prepositions and gender agreement should be near-perfect, even in fast-paced speech.
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At the C1 level, you understand the subtle connotations and historical baggage of the word 'esquerda'. You can appreciate how the word is used in literature to symbolize certain ideologies or character traits. You are familiar with the etymological roots (the Basque 'ezkerra') and how it replaced the Latin 'sinister' in common usage. You can use the word in high-level academic or political analysis, discussing the 'fragmentação da esquerda' (fragmentation of the left) or 'políticas de cariz de esquerda'. You also recognize regional variations in how directions are given across the Portuguese-speaking world and can adapt your vocabulary accordingly.
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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'esquerda' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can use the word in sophisticated wordplay, metaphors, and complex rhetorical structures. You understand the deepest nuances of political philosophy associated with the term and can discuss its evolution from the 19th century to the present day. You can effortlessly switch between the literal, figurative, and technical (nautical, medical, legal) uses of the word. You are also aware of very rare or archaic synonyms and can interpret them in classical Portuguese texts. Your command of the 'crase' and all associated prepositions is flawless and instinctive.
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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

esquerda en 30 segundos

  • Esquerda means 'left' in Portuguese, used for directions and positions.
  • It is a feminine noun, but the adjective form is 'esquerdo' (m) or 'esquerda' (f).
  • In politics, it refers to progressive or socialist ideologies and parties.
  • Commonly used with the preposition 'à' when giving directions: 'vire à esquerda'.

The Portuguese word esquerda primarily functions as a noun and an adjective, denoting the direction or side that is to the west when one faces north. At its most fundamental level, it is the opposite of direita (right). In the context of spatial orientation, it is one of the first words a learner encounters, essential for navigation, describing the human body, and identifying the position of objects in a room. However, the depth of 'esquerda' extends far beyond simple geography. It carries significant weight in political discourse, social history, and even linguistic evolution. In Portuguese, like many Romance languages, the concept of 'left' has historically been associated with the 'sinister' (from the Latin sinister), though in modern usage, this negative connotation has largely faded in favor of neutral directional or political descriptions.

Spatial Orientation
Refers to the side of the body where the heart is typically located.
Political Ideology
Represents parties and movements that advocate for social equality and egalitarianism.
Navigation
Used in driving or walking instructions to indicate a change in course.

O museu fica logo à esquerda depois do semáforo.

Translation: The museum is just on the left after the traffic light.

When discussing the human body, esquerda is used to distinguish limbs and organs. For example, 'a mão esquerda' (the left hand) or 'o pé esquerdo' (the left foot—note the masculine agreement for 'pé'). This brings up an important grammatical point: while 'esquerda' is a feminine noun, it often acts as an adjective that must agree with the noun it modifies. In the political realm, 'a esquerda' refers to the collective group of parties or individuals holding progressive or socialist views. This usage emerged from the seating arrangements in the French National Assembly after the Revolution of 1789, a tradition that persists in many Lusophone parliaments today.

Ele escreve com a mão esquerda.

A esquerda política defende maiores investimentos em serviços públicos.

Mantenha-se na faixa da esquerda para ultrapassar.

O sapato do pé esquerdo está apertado.

Grammatical Gender
'Esquerda' is feminine. 'Esquerdo' is the masculine adjective form.
Common Prepositions
'À esquerda' (to the left), 'Da esquerda' (from/of the left).

Using esquerda correctly requires an understanding of its role as both a noun and an adjective, as well as the specific prepositions that accompany it in different contexts. For beginners (A1-A2), the most frequent use case is in navigation. When you are telling someone to turn, you use the verb virar or dobrar (common in Portugal). The phrase is almost always 'vire à esquerda'. The 'à' is a contraction of the preposition 'a' and the definite article 'a', which is why the grave accent (crase) is mandatory. If you are describing the location of something, you use 'está à esquerda de' (it is to the left of). For example, 'A cadeira está à esquerda da mesa'.

Giving Directions
Use 'Vire à esquerda' or 'Siga pela esquerda'.
Describing Position
Use 'À esquerda de [objeto]'.
Political Context
Use 'Ser de esquerda' (to be left-wing).

In more advanced contexts (B1-C2), esquerda becomes a tool for discussing social dynamics and politics. One might say 'O governo inclina-se para a esquerda' (The government leans to the left). Here, 'esquerda' is a noun representing an ideology. It is also important to note the adjectival agreement. While the noun 'esquerda' is feminine, the adjective 'esquerdo' must match the noun it describes: 'o braço esquerdo' (the left arm) vs. 'a orelha esquerda' (the left ear). This distinction is a common stumbling block for learners who forget to switch to the masculine 'o' ending for masculine nouns.

Furthermore, 'esquerda' appears in various idiomatic expressions. To do something 'com o pé esquerdo' (with the left foot) means to start something badly or with bad luck, similar to 'getting off on the wrong foot' in English. This reflects ancient superstitions where the left side was considered unlucky. In sports, particularly football (soccer), a 'canhoto' is someone who is left-footed or left-handed, but you might also hear 'ele joga pela esquerda' (he plays on the left wing). Understanding these nuances allows a speaker to move from basic survival Portuguese to nuanced, natural communication.

You will encounter esquerda in a variety of everyday environments. The most immediate is likely a GPS or navigation app. A robotic voice will frequently command, 'Em duzentos metros, vire à esquerda'. In a car, the driver might ask the passenger, 'É para virar na próxima à esquerda?' (Should I turn at the next left?). In a city setting, pedestrians use it to orient themselves: 'A farmácia fica na primeira rua à esquerda'.

In the Car
GPS instructions and lane markings ('faixa da esquerda').
In Politics
News broadcasts discussing 'os partidos de esquerda'.
In Sports
Commentary regarding a player's position on the field.

In the news and media, esquerda is ubiquitous during election cycles. Journalists will analyze the 'voto de esquerda' (left-wing vote) or discuss a 'coligação de esquerda' (left-wing coalition). In these contexts, the word is rarely about physical direction and entirely about political philosophy. You might also hear it in a medical or fitness context. A physical therapist might say, 'Levante a perna esquerda' (Lift your left leg). In a clothing store, an assistant might point you toward the 'provadores à esquerda' (fitting rooms on the left).

Finally, in social settings, 'esquerda' can come up when organizing things. 'Põe os garfos à esquerda dos pratos' (Put the forks to the left of the plates). Whether you are following a recipe, setting a table, or navigating a new city, 'esquerda' is a fundamental building block of the Portuguese language that bridges the gap between physical reality and abstract thought.

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is the confusion between the noun esquerda and the verb esquecer (to forget). Because they both start with 'esque-', beginners sometimes mix them up in high-pressure situations. Another major pitfall is the misuse of the masculine and feminine forms. Remember: 'esquerda' is the noun (the left) and the feminine adjective. 'Esquerdo' is the masculine adjective. Saying 'o lado esquerda' is incorrect; it must be 'o lado esquerdo'.

Gender Mismatch
Using 'esquerda' with masculine nouns like 'lado' or 'braço'.
Missing Crase
Writing 'vire a esquerda' without the accent when it means 'to the left'.
Preposition Confusion
Using 'para esquerda' instead of 'à esquerda' in standard directions.

The 'crase' (the grave accent on the 'à') is another common stumbling block. In the phrase 'vire à esquerda', the 'à' indicates a direction. Without the accent, 'vire a esquerda' could theoretically mean 'turn the left' (as if you were physically rotating the concept of the left), which makes no sense. In writing, omitting this accent is a clear sign of a learner or a careless native speaker. Additionally, learners often struggle with the preposition 'de'. To say 'to the left of the car', you must say 'à esquerda do carro' (de + o). Beginners often forget to contract the preposition with the article.

Lastly, be careful with the expression 'ter dois pés esquerdos'. While in English we say 'to have two left feet' to mean someone is clumsy at dancing, the Portuguese equivalent is often 'ter dois pés esquerdos' as well, but some regions might use different metaphors for clumsiness. However, the literal translation usually works. Just ensure you use the masculine plural 'esquerdos' to agree with 'pés'.

While esquerda is the standard term for 'left', there are several related words that provide more specific meaning or color to the language. The most common synonym in a physical sense is canhoto. While 'esquerda' describes the direction, 'canhoto' describes the person. A 'canhoto' is a left-handed person. In some regions, you might also hear canhoteiro, though it is less common. In a more archaic or literary context, the word sinistro can mean left, but in modern Portuguese, it almost exclusively means 'sinister', 'scary', or 'an accident' (in insurance terms).

Canhoto
A person who uses their left hand or foot preferentially.
Sinistro
The historical root for 'left', now meaning 'accident' or 'eerie'.
Boreste/Bombordo
Nautical terms for right and left (Bombordo is left).

In nautical contexts, you won't hear 'esquerda'; instead, sailors use bombordo. This is a crucial distinction for anyone interested in maritime activities or reading classic literature like 'Os Lusíadas'. Another related concept is vante (forward) and ré (backward), which often accompany directional terms. When discussing political nuances, you might hear centro-esquerda (center-left) or extrema-esquerda (far-left), which help categorize the broad spectrum of 'a esquerda'.

Comparing 'esquerda' to its opposite, direita, is also helpful. Just as 'direita' can mean 'straight' (direto) or 'law' (direito), 'esquerda' remains more strictly tied to its directional and political meanings. However, the richness of the word lies in how it interacts with these synonyms to create a full picture of spatial and social orientation in the Lusophone world.

How Formal Is It?

Nivel de dificultad

Gramática que debes saber

Crase (à esquerda)

Adjective-Noun Agreement

Prepositional Contractions (do/da)

Imperative Mood (vire/vire-se)

Ordinal Numbers (primeira, segunda)

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Ejemplos por nivel

1

Vire à esquerda.

Turn left.

Uses the imperative 'vire' and the contraction 'à'.

2

A minha mão esquerda dói.

My left hand hurts.

Feminine agreement: mão esquerda.

3

Onde fica a esquerda?

Where is the left?

Noun use with definite article 'a'.

4

O carro está à esquerda.

The car is on the left.

Prepositional phrase 'à esquerda'.

5

Olhe para a esquerda.

Look to the left.

Directional use with 'para'.

6

A porta é à esquerda.

The door is on the left.

Indicating location.

7

Use o seu braço esquerdo.

Use your left arm.

Masculine agreement: braço esquerdo.

8

A primeira rua à esquerda.

The first street on the left.

Ordinal number + direction.

1

O gato está à esquerda da mesa.

The cat is to the left of the table.

Compound preposition 'à esquerda de'.

2

Eu escrevo com a mão esquerda.

I write with my left hand.

Describing a habit.

3

Eles moram no lado esquerdo do prédio.

They live on the left side of the building.

Masculine agreement with 'lado'.

4

Vire à esquerda no próximo sinal.

Turn left at the next light.

Specific driving instruction.

5

O livro está na prateleira da esquerda.

The book is on the left shelf.

Genitive use 'da esquerda'.

6

O meu olho esquerdo está vermelho.

My left eye is red.

Masculine adjective 'esquerdo'.

7

Caminhe sempre pela esquerda.

Always walk on the left.

Using 'pela' (por + a).

8

A esquerda é o caminho mais curto.

The left is the shortest way.

Subject of the sentence.

1

Comecei o dia com o pé esquerdo.

I started the day on the wrong foot.

Idiomatic expression.

2

Ele é um político de esquerda.

He is a left-wing politician.

Political categorization.

3

A esquerda do gráfico mostra o crescimento.

The left of the graph shows the growth.

Technical description.

4

Se virares à esquerda, verás o mar.

If you turn left, you will see the sea.

Future subjunctive 'virares'.

5

Ela prefere sentar-se à esquerda no cinema.

She prefers to sit on the left in the cinema.

Preference and location.

6

O atacante chuta melhor com a esquerda.

The striker shoots better with his left (foot).

Ellipsis (foot is implied).

7

A faixa da esquerda é para ultrapassagens.

The left lane is for overtaking.

Traffic rule.

8

Mantenha a esquerda na rotunda.

Keep left at the roundabout.

Imperative instruction.

1

A ideologia de esquerda foca na igualdade social.

Left-wing ideology focuses on social equality.

Abstract noun use.

2

O governo de centro-esquerda propôs novas leis.

The center-left government proposed new laws.

Compound adjective.

3

O reflexo no espelho inverte a direita e a esquerda.

The reflection in the mirror inverts right and left.

Scientific observation.

4

Ele sempre foi canhoto, mas aprendeu a usar a direita.

He was always left-handed, but learned to use his right.

Contrast between 'canhoto' and 'direita'.

5

A ala esquerda do partido divergiu do líder.

The left wing of the party disagreed with the leader.

Metaphorical 'wing'.

6

O sinistro ocorreu no lado esquerdo do veículo.

The accident occurred on the left side of the vehicle.

Technical term 'sinistro'.

7

A margem esquerda do rio é mais fértil.

The left bank of the river is more fertile.

Geographical term.

8

Ela posicionou-se à esquerda do debate.

She positioned herself to the left of the debate.

Figurative positioning.

1

A fragmentação da esquerda dificultou a coligação.

The fragmentation of the left made the coalition difficult.

Complex political analysis.

2

O autor utiliza a esquerda como metáfora para o passado.

The author uses the left as a metaphor for the past.

Literary analysis.

3

A hemiparesia afetou o seu lado esquerdo.

The hemiparesis affected his left side.

Medical terminology.

4

É imperativo que a esquerda se modernize.

It is imperative that the left modernizes itself.

Subjunctive mood.

5

O navio virou a bombordo, ou seja, para a esquerda.

The ship turned to port, that is, to the left.

Nautical synonym 'bombordo'.

6

A retórica de esquerda permeia o seu discurso.

Left-wing rhetoric permeates his speech.

High-level vocabulary.

7

O edifício à esquerda da catedral é seiscentista.

The building to the left of the cathedral is from the 17th century.

Historical description.

8

Ele tem uma tendência inata para a esquerda.

He has an innate tendency toward the left.

Abstract tendency.

1

A dicotomia entre esquerda e direita parece cada vez mais obsoleta.

The dichotomy between left and right seems increasingly obsolete.

Philosophical discourse.

2

O pensamento de esquerda radical ressurgiu na última década.

Radical left-wing thought has resurfaced in the last decade.

Socio-political analysis.

3

A lateralidade esquerda é um fenómeno neurológico fascinante.

Left-handedness is a fascinating neurological phenomenon.

Scientific terminology.

4

Subjacente a esta política, reside uma visão de esquerda.

Underlying this policy lies a left-wing vision.

Sophisticated sentence structure.

5

A esquerda, enquanto bloco, falhou em articular uma alternativa.

The left, as a block, failed to articulate an alternative.

Apposition and complex verb phrase.

6

O viés de esquerda na academia é frequentemente debatido.

The left-wing bias in academia is frequently debated.

Abstract concept 'viés'.

7

A mão esquerda do destino parece ter intervindo.

The left hand of fate seems to have intervened.

Poetic/Literary use.

8

Eles guinaram subitamente para a esquerda ideológica.

They suddenly veered toward the ideological left.

Metaphorical verb 'guinar'.

Colocaciones comunes

vire à esquerda
mão esquerda
lado esquerdo
pé esquerdo
partido de esquerda
extrema esquerda
centro-esquerda
faixa da esquerda
margem esquerda
ala esquerda

Frases Comunes

À esquerda de
Para a esquerda
Vire na primeira à esquerda
Mantenha-se à esquerda
De esquerda
Pela esquerda
Braço esquerdo
Olho esquerdo
Lado esquerdo do peito
Curva à esquerda

Se confunde a menudo con

esquerda vs Esquecer (to forget)

esquerda vs Escada (stairs)

esquerda vs Esquilo (squirrel)

Modismos y expresiones

"Começar com o pé esquerdo"
"Ter dois pés esquerdos"
"Ser o braço esquerdo de alguém"
"Casamento da mão esquerda"
"Entrar com o pé esquerdo"
"Dar uma de esquerda"
"Ver com o olho esquerdo"
"Caminho da esquerda"
"Lado esquerdo do cérebro"
"Política de esquerda"

Fácil de confundir

esquerda vs

esquerda vs

esquerda vs

Patrones de oraciones

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Cómo usarlo

politics

Usually refers to the collective movement.

adjective

Must agree with the noun.

direction

Always feminine when used as 'the left side'.

Errores comunes
  • Saying 'o lado esquerda' instead of 'o lado esquerdo'.
  • Writing 'vire a esquerda' without the grave accent (à).
  • Confusing 'esquerda' with the verb 'esquecer' (to forget).
  • Using 'esquerda' to mean 'straight' (that would be 'direto').
  • Forgetting to contract 'de' + 'a' in 'à esquerda da mesa'.

Consejos

Agreement

Remember: 'o lado esquerdo' but 'a mão esquerda'. The adjective must match the noun's gender.

The 'S' sound

In Lisbon or Rio, the 's' in 'esquerda' sounds like 'sh'. Practice saying 'esh-querda'.

Canhoto

Use 'canhoto' for people. 'Ele é canhoto' sounds much more natural than 'Ele é da esquerda' (which sounds political).

Crase

Always use 'à esquerda' with an accent for directions. It's a very common spelling mistake to omit it.

Politics

Be careful when discussing 'a esquerda' in social settings, as political views can be very polarized.

Pé Esquerdo

If someone has a bad start to their day, say 'Ele começou com o pé esquerdo'.

GPS

When using a GPS in Portuguese, 'esquerda' is one of the most frequent words you will hear.

Soccer

A 'canhota' can also refer to a powerful left-footed shot in soccer commentary.

Basque Root

Knowing it comes from Basque 'ezkerra' helps you remember it's different from the Latin-based 'direita'.

Bombordo

If you are on a boat, use 'bombordo' instead of 'esquerda' to sound like a real sailor.

Memorízalo

Origen de la palabra

Basque 'ezkerra'

Contexto cultural

Left-footed players (canhotos) are often highly valued in soccer.

The left-right divide is very sharp in Brazilian and Portuguese politics.

Entering a room with the left foot is still considered bad luck by some.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Inicios de conversación

"Você é canhoto ou destro?"

"Onde fica o banheiro? É à esquerda ou à direita?"

"O que você acha da nova política de esquerda?"

"Você prefere sentar à esquerda no avião?"

"O seu time joga melhor pela esquerda?"

Temas para diario

Descreva o que você vê à sua esquerda agora.

Você já começou um projeto com o pé esquerdo? O que aconteceu?

Como são as direções na sua cidade? Muitas curvas à esquerda?

Escreva sobre a importância da esquerda política no seu país.

Você prefere usar a mão esquerda para alguma tarefa específica?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

The noun 'a esquerda' is always feminine. However, as an adjective, it becomes 'esquerdo' for masculine nouns like 'o braço esquerdo'.

You say 'à esquerda'. Don't forget the grave accent on the 'à'.

A 'canhoto' is a left-handed person. It is the specific term for someone who uses their left side preferentially.

Not directly, but the idiom 'começar com o pé esquerdo' means to start something badly or with bad luck.

It is a contraction of the preposition 'a' (to) and the article 'a' (the), called a crase.

Yes, it is the standard word in all Portuguese-speaking countries.

The opposite is 'direita' (right).

You say 'ala esquerda' or simply 'a esquerda'.

Historically yes, but in modern Portuguese, it means 'accident' or 'sinister'.

Yes, 'para a esquerda' is also correct and means 'towards the left'.

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