Meaning
At a short distance away; close.
Cultural Background
Brazilians use 'pertinho' (very close) even if the place is a 15-minute walk away. It's a way of being encouraging and polite. In Portugal, you will frequently hear 'ao pé de' instead of 'perto de' in informal speech. It literally means 'at the foot of'. Similar to Brazil, 'perto' is used frequently in daily navigation, often accompanied by hand gestures indicating direction.
The 'De' Rule
If you name the place, you MUST use 'de'. If you don't name it, just use 'perto'.
Contractions
Don't forget to combine 'de' with the article (do, da, dos, das).
Meaning
At a short distance away; close.
The 'De' Rule
If you name the place, you MUST use 'de'. If you don't name it, just use 'perto'.
Contractions
Don't forget to combine 'de' with the article (do, da, dos, das).
Emphasis
Use 'bem perto' to say 'very close'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct contraction (do, da, dos, das).
O hospital é perto ___ (o) centro.
Perto + de + o = perto do.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'I live near the beach'?
You need the contraction 'da' (de + a).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are 5 minutes away from your friend's house.
'Estou perto' means 'I am close'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Onde fica o banheiro? B: Fica ____ da entrada.
In a building, things are usually 'perto' of landmarks.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Perto vs. Longe
Common Perto De... Locations
City
- • Perto do metrô
- • Perto do banco
- • Perto da escola
Practice Bank
4 exercisesO hospital é perto ___ (o) centro.
Perto + de + o = perto do.
How do you say 'I live near the beach'?
You need the contraction 'da' (de + a).
You are 5 minutes away from your friend's house.
'Estou perto' means 'I am close'.
A: Onde fica o banheiro? B: Fica ____ da entrada.
In a building, things are usually 'perto' of landmarks.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsOnly for physical distance. For emotional closeness, use 'próximo'.
'Perto' is more common for distance. 'Próximo' is more formal and used for 'next' in a sequence.
No, it is an adverb. It doesn't change for gender or number (it's never 'perta').
Use 'aqui perto' or 'perto daqui'.
The word is the same, but the informal 'ao pé de' is very common there.
No, use 'perto de mim'.
Related Phrases
Próximo
synonymNext or close
Longe
contrastFar
Ao lado
specialized formNext to
