Em segundo lugar

You can't just drop this phrase out of nowhere. It’s like the second season of a Netflix show—it only makes sense if there was a first season. You almost always start with Em primeiro lugar (In the first place) or Primeiro (First). Once you’ve finished that thought, you clear your throat (metaphorically) and say, Em segundo lugar... followed by your next brilliant idea. It usually sits right at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma. For example: Em segundo lugar, a bateria do iPhone não dura nada. (Secondly, the iPhone battery doesn't last at all). It works in writing, speaking, and even in those long, heated WhatsApp voice notes where you're explaining why your friend's ex was a bad idea.

This phrase is the ultimate social chameleon. It’s professional enough for a LinkedIn post about "5 ways to optimize your workflow," but casual enough for a dinner table debate about which Marvel movie is the best. In a job interview, it shows you are organized. In a casual chat, it shows you are passionate about your topic. While there is a word Segundamente (Secondly), it’s a bit of a linguistic trap. Some people love it, but many grammarians think it’s ugly or technically incorrect. If you want to play it safe and sound naturally fluent, stick with Em segundo lugar. It’s the "little black dress" of Portuguese transitions—it never goes out of style and fits every occasion.

You’ll see this everywhere once you start looking. Picture a YouTuber doing a product review: Em primeiro lugar, a câmera é ótima. Em segundo lugar, o preço é justo. (First, the camera is great. Secondly, the price is fair). Or think about a travel blogger writing a caption: Por que visitar Lisboa? Primeiro, pela comida. Em segundo lugar, pela luz única da cidade. (Why visit Lisbon? First, for the food. Secondly, for the city's unique light). Even in corporate Zoom meetings, you’ll hear: Em segundo lugar, precisamos revisar o orçamento. (Secondly, we need to review the budget). It’s the backbone of any good explanation, whether you’re talking about quantum physics or why you forgot to buy milk.

Use it whenever you have more than one thing to say. It’s perfect for giving advice: Em primeiro lugar, descanse. Em segundo lugar, beba muita água. (First, rest. Secondly, drink lots of water). Use it when you’re defending yourself: Em primeiro lugar, eu não sabia. Em segundo lugar, eu nem estava lá! (First, I didn't know. Secondly, I wasn't even there!). It’s also great for structured storytelling. If you’re a fan of making lists or if you’re the person in the friend group who organizes the trips, this phrase will be your best friend. It helps prevent people from interrupting you because they know there’s at least one more point coming.

Don't use it if you haven't established a "first place" yet. If you start a conversation with Em segundo lugar, people will look at you like you’ve skipped a page in a book. Also, avoid overusing it in very short, punchy texts. If you’re just texting "Come over," don't reply to their "Why?" with a numbered list unless you're being intentionally dramatic or funny. While it’s versatile, using it three times in three sentences can make you sound a bit robotic, like a GPS that’s lost its way. If you find yourself reaching for it too often, try mixing it up with Além disso (Besides that) or Depois (Then).

The most frequent slip-up for English speakers is trying to force a gender change. They might say Em segunda lugar because they think it needs to match a feminine noun they mentioned earlier. Nope! It’s always segundo (masculine) because it refers to the "place" (o lugar), which is a masculine noun. Another mistake is using Em segundo without the lugar. While people might understand you, it sounds incomplete, like eating a sandwich with no bread. Also, watch out for the ✗ Em segundo vez → ✓ Em segundo lugar. You might be thinking of "the second time," but for listing points, we always use "place."

If you want to sound a bit more casual, you can just say Segundo... or O segundo ponto é... (The second point is...). If you’re writing a formal essay, you might see No que concerne ao segundo aspecto (Regarding the second aspect), but that’s like wearing a tuxedo to a grocery store—a bit much for daily life. In Portugal, you might hear Em segundo plano when someone wants to say something is "in the background" or less important, which is a cousin to our phrase but has a different meaning. To keep it modern and fresh, many people on social media just use the emoji 2️⃣ followed by their text, but when they read it out loud, they say Em segundo lugar.

Is Em segundo lugar better than Segundamente? Yes, absolutely. While Segundamente exists, it often sounds forced or slightly pretentious. Em segundo lugar is the natural, native-approved choice. Can I use it in an email to my boss? Yes, it’s perfect for professional correspondence as it shows you are clear and organized. Does it work for more than two items? Yes, but you’ll eventually need to move on to Em terceiro lugar (Thirdly) or Por fim (Finally) so you don't sound like a never-ending list. Is it okay to use it in a romantic argument? Well, it might make you sound a bit too logical, which can sometimes backfire, but at least your points will be clear!