Seguidamente
Seguidamente en 30 secondes
- Used to show the next step in a sequence.
- Formal alternative to 'depois' or 'em seguida'.
- Means 'frequently' in Brazilian Portuguese.
- Essential for professional writing and instructions.
The Portuguese adverb seguidamente is a sophisticated yet accessible temporal marker used to denote a sequence of events. At its core, it functions as a bridge between two actions, indicating that the second action occurs immediately or shortly after the first. Derived from the adjective 'seguido' (followed/continuous) and the suffix '-mente' (the equivalent of '-ly' in English), it literally translates to 'followingly' or 'subsequently'.
- Temporal Function
- It acts as a chronological anchor, ensuring the listener understands the order of operations.
- Morphological Structure
- Seguida (Root) + mente (Suffix) = Seguidamente.
- Syntactic Role
- It usually appears at the beginning of a sentence or between two clauses to provide transition.
In European Portuguese, its primary meaning is 'next' or 'afterwards'. However, a fascinating linguistic divergence occurs in Brazilian Portuguese, where seguidamente is frequently used as a synonym for 'frequently' or 'repeatedly'. This dual nature makes it a critical word for students to master, as the context and geography significantly alter its interpretation.
"Lave os legumes e, seguidamente, corte-os em cubos pequenos."
Understanding this word requires recognizing its linear nature. It is not just about time passing; it is about the link between events. When you use this word, you are telling your audience that the next step is a direct consequence or a planned follow-up to the previous one. This creates a sense of flow and logical progression in both spoken and written discourse.
"O diretor apresentou os lucros e, seguidamente, anunciou o novo plano de expansão."
- Logical Link
- Connects cause and effect or step-by-step processes.
- Formality Level
- Medium-High. Ideal for academic or professional settings.
Using seguidamente correctly involves understanding its placement and the specific 'flavor' of Portuguese you are using. In formal writing, it is often preceded by a comma and followed by the action it introduces. It serves as a transition marker that prevents sentences from feeling choppy.
For A2 learners, the most common structure is: [Action A] + , e seguidamente, + [Action B]. This is the safest way to use it in European Portuguese to mean 'next'.
- In Instructions: "Pressione o botão verde e, seguidamente, aguarde o sinal sonoro." (Press the green button and, subsequently, wait for the beep.)
- In Narratives: "Ele terminou o curso e, seguidamente, encontrou um emprego." (He finished the course and, afterwards, found a job.)
- In Brazilian Context: "Eu estudo seguidamente para as provas." (I study frequently for the exams.)
When writing, avoid overusing it. If every sentence starts with seguidamente, the text becomes repetitive. Alternate it with logo após, posteriormente, or então to maintain a dynamic style. In spoken language, especially in Portugal, you might hear it shortened in spirit to em seguida, which is slightly more casual but carries the same meaning.
You will encounter seguidamente in several specific environments. It is a staple of news broadcasts, where anchors use it to transition between related news items. For example, "O primeiro-ministro visitou a escola e, seguidamente, reuniu-se com os professores."
Another common place is in technical manuals and recipes. Because these formats rely on a strict order of operations, the word provides clarity. In a legal or administrative context, it appears in contracts and official documents to describe the sequence of clauses or the steps of a legal procedure.
In the academic world, professors use it during lectures to guide students through a logical argument: "Vamos analisar os dados e, seguidamente, discutir as conclusões." Hearing this word is a signal that the speaker is moving to the next logical point in their presentation.
The most significant pitfall for learners is the transatlantic confusion. If you are learning Portuguese to speak in Brazil, using seguidamente to mean 'next' might lead to confusion, as locals will likely interpret it as 'frequently'. Conversely, in Portugal, using it to mean 'frequently' will sound incorrect.
Another mistake is redundancy. Phrases like "Depois, seguidamente..." are redundant because both words serve the same purpose. Choose one. Additionally, learners often forget the comma when using it as an introductory phrase. It should be: "Seguidamente, vamos almoçar," not "Seguidamente vamos almoçar."
Finally, don't confuse it with seguramente (surely/certainly). While they sound similar, their meanings are entirely unrelated. One deals with time/order, the other with certainty.
To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to compare seguidamente with its synonyms. Each has a slightly different nuance:
- Em seguida: The most common and versatile synonym. It is less formal than seguidamente and used widely in both Portugal and Brazil.
- Posteriormente: More formal. It implies a longer gap in time between the two events compared to the immediacy of seguidamente.
- Logo após: Emphasizes that the second action happened immediately after the first.
- Sucessivamente: Used when there is a long chain of events happening one after another (successively).
Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific timing you wish to convey.
How Formal Is It?
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Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Exemples par niveau
Eu bebo água e, seguidamente, como.
I drink water and, subsequently, eat.
Simple sequence of two actions.
Abra a porta e, seguidamente, entre.
Open the door and, next, enter.
Imperative mood used for instructions.
Ela estuda e, seguidamente, dorme.
She studies and, afterwards, sleeps.
Connecting daily routines.
Lave as mãos e, seguidamente, jante.
Wash your hands and, next, have dinner.
Sequential commands.
Primeiro o sol, seguidamente a chuva.
First the sun, subsequently the rain.
Noun-based sequence.
O cão corre e, seguidamente, para.
The dog runs and, then, stops.
Describing simple movement.
Eu leio e, seguidamente, escrevo.
I read and, subsequently, write.
Two verbs linked by sequence.
Veja o vídeo e, seguidamente, responda.
Watch the video and, next, answer.
Instructional sequence.
Corte o pão e, seguidamente, coloque o queijo.
Cut the bread and, subsequently, put the cheese.
Step-by-step instruction.
O comboio para em Lisboa e, seguidamente, no Porto.
The train stops in Lisbon and, next, in Porto.
Describing a route.
Faça o login e, seguidamente, mude a senha.
Log in and, subsequently, change the password.
Digital instructions.
O ator agradeceu e, seguidamente, saiu do palco.
The actor said thanks and, next, left the stage.
Narrative sequence.
Visite o museu e, seguidamente, o jardim.
Visit the museum and, afterwards, the garden.
Travel recommendation.
Misture os ovos e, seguidamente, a farinha.
Mix the eggs and, subsequently, the flour.
Recipe step.
Ouça a pergunta e, seguidamente, fale.
Listen to the question and, next, speak.
Classroom instruction.
O sol põe-se e, seguidamente, fica escuro.
The sun sets and, subsequently, it gets dark.
Natural sequence.
O relatório foi lido e, seguidamente, arquivado.
The report was read and, subsequently, filed.
Passive voice with temporal marker.
Apresentamos os factos e, seguidamente, as provas.
We present the facts and, subsequently, the evidence.
Formal presentation structure.
Em Portugal, 'seguidamente' indica ordem; no Brasil, frequência.
In Portugal, 'seguidamente' indicates order; in Brazil, frequency.
Comparative linguistic note.
O governo aprovou a lei e, seguidamente, publicou-a.
The government approved the law and, subsequently, published it.
Formal administrative sequence.
Analise o gráfico e, seguidamente, tire conclusões.
Analyze the graph and, subsequently, draw conclusions.
Logical progression in analysis.
O atleta aqueceu e, seguidamente, iniciou a prova.
The athlete warmed up and, subsequently, started the race.
Describing a sequence of professional actions.
A conferência termina hoje e, seguidamente, haverá um jantar.
The conference ends today and, subsequently, there will be a dinner.
Future event sequence.
Ele pediu desculpa e, seguidamente, explicou o motivo.
He apologized and, subsequently, explained the reason.
Social interaction sequence.
A empresa faliu e, seguidamente, os ativos foram vendidos.
The company went bankrupt and, subsequently, the assets were sold.
Business/Legal context.
O autor introduz o tema e, seguidamente, desenvolve a tese.
The author introduces the theme and, subsequently, develops the thesis.
Academic discourse marker.
A inflação subiu e, seguidamente, o consumo baixou.
Inflation rose and, subsequently, consumption fell.
Economic cause and effect.
O réu foi interrogado e, seguidamente, levado para a cela.
The defendant was interrogated and, subsequently, taken to the cell.
Legal procedural sequence.
Identificamos o erro e, seguidamente, aplicamos a correção.
We identified the error and, subsequently, applied the fix.
Technical problem-solving.
O projeto foi aprovado e, seguidamente, financiado pela UE.
The project was approved and, subsequently, funded by the EU.
Institutional sequence.
A orquestra afinou os instrumentos e, seguidamente, começou o concerto.
The orchestra tuned the instruments and, subsequently, the concert began.
Formal event description.
Ele leu o testamento e, seguidamente, revelou o segredo.
He read the will and, subsequently, revealed the secret.
Narrative tension marker.
Abordaremos a questão ética e, seguidamente, a vertente jurídica.
We will address the ethical issue and, subsequently, the legal aspect.
Structuring a complex argument.
O surto foi detetado e, seguidamente, contido pelas autoridades.
The outbreak was detected and, subsequently, contained by the authorities.
Formal crisis management description.
A obra foi restaurada e, seguidamente, exposta ao público.
The work was restored and, subsequently, exhibited to the public.
Artistic/Professional sequence.
O protocolo foi assinado e, seguidamente, ratificado pelo parlamento.
The protocol was signed and, subsequently, ratified by parliament.
High-level political terminology.
A teoria foi proposta e, seguidamente, refutada por novos dados.
The theory was proposed and, subsequently, refuted by new data.
Scientific discourse.
O declínio industrial foi seguido, seguidamente, por uma crise social.
The industrial decline was followed, subsequently, by a social crisis.
Historical/Sociological analysis.
A peça foi encenada em Londres e, seguidamente, em Nova Iorque.
The play was staged in London and, subsequently, in New York.
International professional sequence.
O algoritmo processa os dados e, seguidamente, gera o relatório.
The algorithm processes the data and, subsequently, generates the report.
High-level technical process.
A análise debruça-se sobre a génese do conflito, expondo seguidamente as suas ramificações.
The analysis focuses on the genesis of the conflict, subsequently exposing its ramifications.
Sophisticated academic syntax.
O monarca abdicou e, seguidamente, o país mergulhou na incerteza.
The monarch abdicated and, subsequently, the country plunged into uncertainty.
Literary/Historical register.
A proposta foi submetida a escrutínio e, seguidamente, rejeitada liminarmente.
The proposal was submitted to scrutiny and, subsequently, rejected out of hand.
Legal/Administrative precision.
O autor desconstrói o mito para, seguidamente, erigir uma nova narrativa.
The author deconstructs the myth to, subsequently, erect a new narrative.
Philosophical/Literary discourse.
A recessão acentuou-se, sendo seguidamente mitigada por medidas fiscais.
The recession deepened, being subsequently mitigated by fiscal measures.
Complex passive construction.
O sistema colapsou e, seguidamente, procedeu-se à sua reestruturação total.
The system collapsed and, subsequently, its total restructuring was carried out.
Formal impersonal 'se' construction.
A descoberta foi patenteada e, seguidamente, comercializada à escala global.
The discovery was patented and, subsequently, commercialized on a global scale.
Industrial/Economic sequence.
O orador cativou a audiência, passando seguidamente à fase de debate.
The speaker captivated the audience, subsequently moving to the debate phase.
Professional rhetorical flow.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
E, seguidamente, passamos a...
Como veremos seguidamente
Seguidamente, importa referir que
Foi seguidamente anunciado
Aconteceu seguidamente
Vem seguidamente
Trabalhar seguidamente
Estudar seguidamente
Viajar seguidamente
Visitar seguidamente
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
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Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
It provides a clear chronological link.
It is more formal than 'depois'.
Crucial difference between PT-PT and PT-BR.
- Using it to mean 'frequently' in Portugal.
- Using it to mean 'next' in Brazil without context.
- Forgetting the comma.
- Confusing it with 'seguramente'.
- Redundancy (e.g., 'Depois seguidamente').
Astuces
Comma Usage
Always use a comma when starting a sentence with 'Seguidamente' to separate the transition from the main clause.
Synonym Choice
Use 'seguidamente' for professional emails and 'em seguida' for texting friends.
Regional Awareness
If you are in Brazil, use 'com frequência' instead of 'seguidamente' to avoid being misunderstood if you mean 'next'.
Rhythm
The stress is on the 'MEN' syllable: se-gui-da-MEN-te.
Flow
Use it to link paragraphs that describe a chronological process.
Context Clues
If the speaker is talking about a routine, they probably mean 'frequently' (if Brazilian).
The -mente Suffix
Remember that almost all Portuguese adverbs end in -mente, just like English -ly.
Professionalism
Using this word in a job interview in Portugal will make you sound very articulate.
Instructions
When you see this in a manual, it's a signal to not skip the next step.
Variety
Pair it with 'Primeiramente' (Firstly) to create a structured list.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Latin 'sequi' (to follow)
Contexte culturel
Follows the European Portuguese usage (subsequently).
Commonly means 'frequently' in the South and in casual speech.
Highly formal, used in news and law.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"O que você faz seguidamente depois do trabalho?"
"Você viaja seguidamente para o exterior? (Brazilian context)"
"Quais são os passos? Primeiro isto e seguidamente o quê?"
"Você costuma ler o jornal e, seguidamente, tomar café?"
"Seguidamente, qual é o plano para o fim de semana?"
Sujets d'écriture
Descreve a tua rotina matinal usando 'seguidamente'.
Escreve sobre um objetivo e o que vais fazer seguidamente para o alcançar.
Explica como fazer o teu prato favorito passo a passo.
Relata um evento importante da tua vida e o que aconteceu seguidamente.
Compara o uso de 'seguidamente' em Portugal e no Brasil.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIn Portugal, yes. In Brazil, it often means 'frequently'.
Yes, it is more formal than 'depois' or 'em seguida'.
Usually before and/or after the word depending on the sentence structure.
Yes, to introduce the next step in a process.
Yes, but 'em seguida' is more common in casual speech.
The verb 'seguir' (to follow).
Like 's'guida-mente'.
Only in Brazilian Portuguese usage.
Yes, it is perfect for listing steps.
No, it is an adverb. The adjective is 'seguido'.
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Summary
Seguidamente is a versatile adverb that primarily functions as a formal 'next' in Portugal, while often meaning 'frequently' in Brazil. It is a vital tool for organizing logical sequences in professional and academic contexts.
- Used to show the next step in a sequence.
- Formal alternative to 'depois' or 'em seguida'.
- Means 'frequently' in Brazilian Portuguese.
- Essential for professional writing and instructions.
Comma Usage
Always use a comma when starting a sentence with 'Seguidamente' to separate the transition from the main clause.
Synonym Choice
Use 'seguidamente' for professional emails and 'em seguida' for texting friends.
Regional Awareness
If you are in Brazil, use 'com frequência' instead of 'seguidamente' to avoid being misunderstood if you mean 'next'.
Rhythm
The stress is on the 'MEN' syllable: se-gui-da-MEN-te.
Contenu associé
Plus de mots sur business
A seguir
A2Ensuite ; à suivre. Je vais manger et ensuite je vais dormir. Lisez le texte à suivre.
ação
A2A share representing ownership in a company.
acionista
B1An owner of shares in a company or corporation.
Ações
A2Shares in a company, representing ownership.
Adaptável
A2Able to adjust to new conditions.
adiantamento
B2A payment made before it is due; an advance.
adiantar
A2To make progress; to move forward.
administrador
A2A person responsible for running a business or organization.
Administrativamente
A2In an administrative manner.
Adquirido
A2Bought or obtained.