Terça-feira en 30 segundos
- Terça-feira means Tuesday in Portuguese and is a feminine noun.
- It follows a unique numbering system (3rd day) instead of planetary names.
- The preposition 'na' is used for 'on Tuesday' (e.g., na terça-feira).
- In casual speech, the suffix '-feira' is often omitted.
The term Terça-feira is the standard Portuguese word for Tuesday. Unlike most Romance languages that derive their weekday names from celestial bodies or Roman deities (like the Spanish 'Martes' for Mars), Portuguese utilizes a unique liturgical numbering system. The word 'Terça' originates from the Latin 'tertia', meaning 'third', and 'feira' comes from 'feria', which originally signified a religious festival or market day. In the Portuguese calendar, Sunday is considered the first day (primeira-feira, though called Domingo), making Tuesday the third day of the cycle.
- Grammatical Gender
- Feminine (A terça-feira)
- Plural Form
- Terças-feiras (Both parts pluralize)
- Abbreviation
- 3ª (Commonly used in schedules)
"Eu tenho uma consulta médica na terça-feira de manhã."
Historically, this nomenclature was established by Saint Martin of Braga in the 6th century, who argued that Christians should not name the days of the week after pagan gods. This linguistic shift took deep root in the territory that would become Portugal, distinguishing it from its neighbors. When you use 'Terça-feira', you are participating in a linguistic tradition that is over 1,500 years old. It is a word that appears in every aspect of daily life, from business deadlines to social gatherings.
A terça-feira gorda é o auge do Carnaval.
Na próxima terça-feira, o museu estará fechado.
Toda terça-feira eu pratico natação.
- Prepositional Use
- Always use 'na' (em + a) for 'on Tuesday'.
O feriado cai em uma terça-feira.
- Etymological Root
- Latin 'feria' (free day/market).
Using Terça-feira correctly requires understanding its role as a feminine noun. In Portuguese, days of the week (except for Saturday and Sunday) are feminine because of the word 'feira'. Therefore, you must use feminine articles and adjectives. For example, you would say 'a terça-feira passada' (last Tuesday) or 'uma terça-feira chuvosa' (a rainy Tuesday). The preposition 'on' in English translates to 'na' (a contraction of 'em' and 'a') when referring to a specific Tuesday.
- Na terça-feira: On Tuesday (specific).
- Às terças-feiras: On Tuesdays (habitual).
- De terça a quinta: From Tuesday to Thursday.
When writing formally, the hyphen is mandatory: terça-feira. However, in digital communication, text messages, and casual notes, the '-feira' is almost always omitted. If you are scheduling a meeting, saying 'Vamos nos ver na terça?' is perfectly natural and widely accepted. In professional contexts, particularly in Brazil, you might see '3ª feira' or simply '3ª' on official documents or work schedules.
Pluralization is a common point of confusion. Because it is a compound noun where both elements are significant, both parts take the plural: terças-feiras. For example: 'As terças-feiras são cansativas' (Tuesdays are tiring). Note that the word 'feira' implies a cycle of commerce and community, which is why many public markets in Portugal and Brazil operate on specific 'feiras'.
You will encounter Terça-feira in virtually every social and professional environment. In a corporate setting, it is the day for follow-up meetings after the Monday rush. You'll hear phrases like 'O relatório deve ser entregue na terça' (The report must be delivered on Tuesday). In the context of media, television schedules often highlight 'A Grande Estreia de Terça-feira' (The Great Tuesday Premiere).
In Brazil, 'Terça-feira' is culturally significant during the Carnival season. Terça-feira de Carnaval (Shrove Tuesday) is the climax of the festivities before Ash Wednesday. You will hear this term constantly in news reports, song lyrics, and street announcements during the month of February or March. It represents the final day of celebration and indulgence.
In local neighborhoods, you might hear 'Hoje é dia de feira' on a Tuesday. Many cities have rotating street markets, and for some, Tuesday is the designated day for fresh produce, cheeses, and local crafts. Hearing 'A feira de terça é a melhor' (The Tuesday market is the best) is common among residents who prefer fresh ingredients over supermarket options. In schools, students use it to track their weekly timetable: 'Temos aula de artes na terça' (We have arts class on Tuesday).
The most frequent error for English speakers is using the masculine article. Since 'day' (dia) is masculine in Portuguese, learners often mistakenly say 'no terça-feira'. Remember: Incorrect: 'No terça'. Correct: 'Na terça'. The word 'feira' dictates the feminine gender.
Another mistake involves the plural form. Many learners try to pluralize only the second word ('terça-feiras') or only the first ('terças-feira'). In standard Portuguese, both must be pluralized: terças-feiras. This is a rule for compound nouns composed of two nouns or a numeral and a noun.
Confusion with other days is also common, especially with Quinta-feira (Thursday). Because 'Terça' (3rd) and 'Quinta' (5th) both involve numbers, beginners sometimes swap them. A helpful tip is to associate 'Terça' with 'Três' (Three) and 'Quinta' with 'Cinco' (Five). Also, ensure you don't confuse 'Terça' with 'Tarde' (afternoon) simply because they both start with 'T'.
To fully understand Terça-feira, it is helpful to look at the surrounding days. Segunda-feira (Monday) is the 'second day', and Quarta-feira (Wednesday) is the 'fourth day'. These three form the core of the early work week. Another related term is dia útil (business day/weekday). Terça-feira is always a 'dia útil' unless it falls on a national holiday.
In terms of synonyms, there aren't many direct replacements for the name of a day, but in specific contexts, you might hear terceiro dia (third day) in religious or highly formal chronological descriptions. In the business world, people might refer to 'o segundo dia da semana de trabalho' (the second day of the work week), though this is rare.
Culturally, 'Terça-feira' is sometimes linked to meio de semana (mid-week), although Wednesday is more accurately the middle. In some regions, 'terça' is colloquially associated with 'dia de azar' (unlucky day) or 'dia de sorte' (lucky day) depending on local folklore, similar to the English 'Tuesday's child is full of grace'.
How Formal Is It?
Nivel de dificultad
Gramática que debes saber
Contraction of prepositions with articles (em + a = na).
Pluralization of compound nouns.
Gender agreement with adjectives.
Use of the definite article with days of the week.
Hyphenation in Portuguese.
Ejemplos por nivel
Hoje é terça-feira.
Today is Tuesday.
Uses the verb 'ser' for days of the week.
Eu trabalho na terça-feira.
I work on Tuesday.
'Na' is the contraction of 'em' + 'a'.
A aula é terça-feira.
The class is Tuesday.
The article 'a' is often implied.
Terça-feira é um dia útil.
Tuesday is a business day.
Noun used as a subject.
O mercado abre na terça.
The market opens on Tuesday.
Informal omission of '-feira'.
Até terça-feira!
See you Tuesday!
Common farewell expression.
Qual é a sua terça-feira?
How is your Tuesday?
Possessive 'sua' matches feminine 'terça'.
Terça-feira é o terceiro dia.
Tuesday is the third day.
Ordinal number relationship.
Na terça-feira passada, eu comi pizza.
Last Tuesday, I ate pizza.
Past tense 'comi' with time marker.
Eu vou viajar na próxima terça-feira.
I will travel next Tuesday.
Future intent with 'ir' + infinitive.
Nós temos uma reunião toda terça-feira.
We have a meeting every Tuesday.
'Toda' indicates regularity.
O banco não abre às terças-feiras à noite.
The bank doesn't open on Tuesday nights.
Plural 'terças-feiras' for habitual time.
Você pode me ligar na terça?
Can you call me on Tuesday?
Request in the present tense.
A festa foi em uma terça-feira.
The party was on a Tuesday.
Indefinite article 'uma'.
Eu prefiro a terça-feira à segunda-feira.
I prefer Tuesday to Monday.
Comparison between days.
O documento chega na terça de manhã.
The document arrives Tuesday morning.
Time of day specification.
Se for terça-feira, deve haver feira na praça.
If it's Tuesday, there must be a market in the square.
Conditional 'se' with subjunctive/indicative.
Costumamos sair para jantar às terças-feiras.
We usually go out for dinner on Tuesdays.
Verb 'costumar' for habits.
A Terça-feira de Carnaval é feriado nacional.
Shrove Tuesday is a national holiday.
Proper noun usage.
Eu trabalho de terça a sábado.
I work from Tuesday to Saturday.
Range of days using 'de... a'.
Ela disse que viria na terça-feira.
She said she would come on Tuesday.
Conditional 'viria' in reported speech.
Não deixe para terça o que pode fazer hoje.
Don't leave for Tuesday what you can do today.
Proverbial usage.
O voo de terça-feira foi cancelado.
The Tuesday flight was cancelled.
Noun adjunct 'de terça-feira'.
A conferência começa na terça-feira à tarde.
The conference starts on Tuesday afternoon.
Specific time period.
Caso a reunião seja na terça-feira, precisaremos do relatório.
In case the meeting is on Tuesday, we will need the report.
Subjunctive 'seja' after 'caso'.
A terça-feira gorda precede a quarta-feira de cinzas.
Fat Tuesday precedes Ash Wednesday.
Ecclesiastical terminology.
O prazo final é impreterivelmente na próxima terça-feira.
The deadline is strictly next Tuesday.
Adverb 'impreterivelmente' for emphasis.
Sempre que cai em uma terça-feira, o feriado é prolongado.
Whenever it falls on a Tuesday, the holiday is extended.
Complex conjunction 'sempre que'.
A manutenção ocorre quinzenalmente às terças-feiras.
Maintenance occurs biweekly on Tuesdays.
Adverb 'quinzenalmente'.
Duvido que ele apareça aqui na terça-feira.
I doubt he will show up here on Tuesday.
Subjunctive 'apareça' after 'duvido'.
A terça-feira foi marcada por fortes chuvas no litoral.
Tuesday was marked by heavy rains on the coast.
Passive voice 'foi marcada'.
Reservamos a terça-feira para atividades extracurriculares.
We reserved Tuesday for extracurricular activities.
Direct object usage.
A etimologia de terça-feira remonta às reformas litúrgicas medievais.
The etymology of Tuesday dates back to medieval liturgical reforms.
Academic register.
Posto que seja terça-feira, o movimento na loja está atípico.
Even though it's Tuesday, the foot traffic in the store is atypical.
Concessive conjunction 'posto que'.
A terça-feira, outrora dedicada a Marte em outras línguas, aqui é apenas numérica.
Tuesday, formerly dedicated to Mars in other languages, is merely numerical here.
Apposition and historical contrast.
Não obstante o cansaço de terça-feira, ele continuou a trabalhar.
Despite the Tuesday fatigue, he continued to work.
Formal prepositional phrase 'não obstante'.
O decreto entrará em vigor na primeira terça-feira de cada mês.
The decree will take effect on the first Tuesday of each month.
Legal/Administrative register.
A crônica de terça-feira no jornal foi excepcionalmente ácida.
Tuesday's column in the newspaper was exceptionally biting.
Literary context.
Terça-feira é, por definição, o hiato entre o início e o meio da semana.
Tuesday is, by definition, the hiatus between the start and the middle of the week.
Philosophical/Abstract usage.
A reunião foi postergada para a terça-feira subsequente.
The meeting was postponed to the subsequent Tuesday.
High-level vocabulary 'subsequente'.
A singularidade lusa de denominar a terça-feira advém de um purismo cristão arcaico.
The Portuguese uniqueness of naming Tuesday stems from an archaic Christian purism.
Sophisticated syntax.
Aquela terça-feira fatídica alterou o curso da história política do país.
That fateful Tuesday altered the course of the country's political history.
Use of 'fatídica' (fateful).
O autor utiliza a terça-feira como metáfora para a monotonia existencial.
The author uses Tuesday as a metaphor for existential monotony.
Literary analysis.
Em se tratando de terça-feira, a produtividade tende a atingir seu ápice.
When it comes to Tuesday, productivity tends to reach its peak.
Gerundial phrase 'Em se tratando de'.
A terça-feira transcorreu sem que houvesse qualquer sobressalto.
Tuesday passed without any shocks or surprises.
Negative subjunctive 'houvesse'.
Rememoro com saudade as terças-feiras de outono na aldeia.
I recall with nostalgia the autumn Tuesdays in the village.
Poetic verb 'rememorar'.
A decisão, conquanto tomada na terça-feira, só foi divulgada hoje.
The decision, although made on Tuesday, was only released today.
Concessive 'conquanto'.
Subjaz à terça-feira uma herança cultural que nos distingue das demais nações latinas.
Underlying Tuesday is a cultural heritage that distinguishes us from other Latin nations.
Verb 'subjaz' (underlies).
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
Se confunde a menudo con
Modismos y expresiones
Fácil de confundir
Patrones de oraciones
Cómo usarlo
Always feminine.
Both words change.
Just 'terça'.
- Saying 'No terça' instead of 'Na terça'.
- Writing 'Terça feira' without the hyphen.
- Confusing 'Terça' with 'Quinta'.
- Pluralizing only one part: 'Terça-feiras'.
- Capitalizing the word in the middle of a sentence.
Consejos
Gender Check
Always use 'a' or 'na' with Tuesday. It's never 'o terça'.
Hyphen Rule
Don't forget the hyphen in formal documents: terça-feira.
Shorten It
In a cafe or with friends, just say 'terça' to sound more fluent.
The Number 3
Associate 'Terça' with 'Três' (3) to remember it's the 3rd day.
Carnival
If you are in Brazil, remember that Tuesday is the biggest party day.
Emails
In business emails, '3ª feira' is a safe and professional abbreviation.
Preposition 'às'
When you hear 'às terças', it means something happens every Tuesday.
Feira
Remember 'feira' also means 'market'. Don't get confused if someone says they are going to the 'feira' on a 'terça'.
Plural
Both parts of the word must be pluralized: terças-feiras.
Calendar
Check your Portuguese calendar; you'll see Sunday as the first column.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Terça starts with 'T', like 'Three' (the 3rd day).
Origen de la palabra
Latin
Contexto cultural
Standard business usage.
Focus on Carnival and 'Terça-feira Gorda'.
Focus on the 'feira' (market) tradition.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Inicios de conversación
"O que você costuma fazer na terça-feira?"
"Você prefere a segunda ou a terça-feira?"
"Tem algum plano para a próxima terça?"
"Sua terça-feira está sendo produtiva?"
"Você sabia que terça-feira é o terceiro dia da semana?"
Temas para diario
Descreva sua rotina típica de terça-feira.
O que aconteceu na sua última terça-feira?
Por que a terça-feira é um dia importante (ou não) para você?
Escreva sobre uma terça-feira inesquecível.
Como você se sente quando a terça-feira chega?
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIn Portuguese, days of the week are generally not capitalized unless they start a sentence or are part of a proper name like 'Terça-feira de Carnaval'.
Because the Portuguese calendar follows the Christian tradition where Sunday (Domingo) is the first day of the week.
Yes, in informal conversation, dropping '-feira' is very common and sounds natural.
You say 'às terças-feiras' or 'nas terças-feiras'.
It is feminine: 'a terça-feira'.
Yes, the plural is 'terças-feiras'.
The most common abbreviation is '3ª' or '3ª feira'.
Yes, in formal writing, a hyphen is required between 'terça' and 'feira'.
Traditionally, there was a superstition that it was unlucky for weddings, but that is rarely believed today.
It is the Portuguese name for Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, the last day of Carnival.
Ponte a prueba 180 preguntas
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Terça-feira is the Portuguese word for Tuesday, characterized by its feminine gender and its unique liturgical origin as the 'third fair'. It is essential for scheduling and is frequently shortened to 'terça' in informal contexts.
- Terça-feira means Tuesday in Portuguese and is a feminine noun.
- It follows a unique numbering system (3rd day) instead of planetary names.
- The preposition 'na' is used for 'on Tuesday' (e.g., na terça-feira).
- In casual speech, the suffix '-feira' is often omitted.
Gender Check
Always use 'a' or 'na' with Tuesday. It's never 'o terça'.
Hyphen Rule
Don't forget the hyphen in formal documents: terça-feira.
Shorten It
In a cafe or with friends, just say 'terça' to sound more fluent.
The Number 3
Associate 'Terça' with 'Três' (3) to remember it's the 3rd day.
Ejemplo
Temos uma reunião na terça-feira.
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