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A1 preposition #30 most common 8 min read

Da

Top 30

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips Da in 30 Seconds

Explanation Da in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'da' is introduced as a basic contraction of 'de' (of/from) and 'a' (the). Students learn it primarily to express possession and origin with feminine nouns. The focus is on recognizing that 'de + a' must always become 'da'. Simple sentences like 'A bolsa da professora' (The teacher's bag) or 'Eu sou da cidade' (I am from the city) are typical. Learners are taught to identify the gender of the noun following the preposition to decide between 'da' and 'do'. It is one of the first grammatical hurdles for English speakers who are used to 'of the' remaining as two separate words. Mastery at this level involves consistent use in daily phrases and understanding that the word order for possession is 'Object + da + Owner'.

At the A2 level, the use of 'da' expands to include more varied contexts such as time expressions and specific locations. Students learn that 'da' is used with times of day (da manhã, da tarde, da noite) and with certain countries and cities that require a feminine article (da França, da Bahia). They also begin to use 'da' with verbs that require the preposition 'de', such as 'gostar' (to like) or 'precisar' (to need). For example, 'Eu preciso da sua ajuda' (I need [of] your help). The distinction between 'de' (general) and 'da' (specific) becomes more important. A2 learners should be able to navigate simple stories and conversations where 'da' establishes relationships between people and objects without hesitation.

At the B1 level, 'da' is used in more abstract and complex sentence structures. Learners encounter 'da' in relative clauses and with abstract feminine nouns. For instance, 'A importância da educação' (The importance of education) or 'A causa da poluição' (The cause of pollution). They also start to recognize 'da' in common idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs. At this stage, the learner should be comfortable with the contraction in both spoken and written forms, including more formal registers. They begin to understand that 'da' can also be part of compound prepositions like 'através da' (through the) or 'dentro da' (inside the). The focus shifts from basic possession to using 'da' to link complex ideas and provide detailed descriptions.

At the B2 level, the use of 'da' is completely internalized, and the focus turns to nuances in style and register. Learners understand when to use 'da' versus 'de' in titles, formal addresses, and academic writing. They are aware of regional differences, such as the more frequent use of articles before names in Brazil compared to Portugal, which affects whether 'da' or 'de' is used with personal names. B2 students can handle 'da' in complex passive constructions and with a wide range of verbs that take 'de'. They also begin to notice how 'da' functions in literature to create rhythm and emphasis. The ability to use 'da' correctly in fast-paced conversation and in writing sophisticated essays is expected.

At the C1 level, 'da' is used with precision in highly formal, technical, or literary contexts. The learner understands the historical evolution of the contraction and can identify rare or archaic uses in classical literature. They are adept at using 'da' in legal and administrative language where specificity is paramount. For example, 'Nos termos da lei' (Under the terms of the law). C1 learners can also manipulate the use of 'da' for rhetorical effect, choosing between 'da' and other prepositional forms to change the focus or tone of a sentence. They have a deep understanding of how 'da' interacts with various dialects across the Lusophone world and can adapt their usage accordingly.

At the C2 level, the speaker uses 'da' with the same ease and nuance as a highly educated native speaker. They can appreciate and employ 'da' in complex wordplay, poetry, and advanced philosophical discourse. The use of 'da' is seamless, even in the most intricate syntactic structures. They can explain the grammatical rules governing 'da' to others and are sensitive to the subtle shifts in meaning that occur when 'da' is used instead of 'de' or 'dela'. At this level, 'da' is not just a grammatical requirement but a tool for stylistic expression, used to convey authority, intimacy, or precision in any given communicative situation.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

Da in 30 Seconds

Contraction of 'de' (of/from) + 'a' (the).
Used with feminine singular nouns.
Indicates possession, origin, or time.
Mandatory in Portuguese grammar; 'de a' is incorrect.

The Portuguese word da is one of the most fundamental building blocks of the language, representing a mandatory contraction between the preposition de (meaning 'of' or 'from') and the feminine singular definite article a (meaning 'the'). In Portuguese, unlike English, prepositions almost always merge with the articles that follow them. If you are talking about something belonging to a feminine noun or originating from a feminine place, da is your essential tool. It functions as a bridge connecting a subject to its origin, its owner, or its composition.

Possession: Indicates that something belongs to a feminine entity. For example, 'A bolsa da mulher' (The woman's purse).
Origin: Specifies where someone or something comes from. For example, 'Eu sou da Bahia' (I am from Bahia).
Composition: Describes what something is made of or its specific type. For example, 'A fatia da torta' (The slice of the pie).

Esta é a chave da casa.

Translation: This is the key of the house.

Native speakers use da instinctively. It is never optional; saying 'de a' is considered a grammatical error in standard Portuguese. You will hear it in every context, from the most formal legal documents to the most casual street slang. It is the glue of the Portuguese sentence structure, ensuring that the relationship between nouns is clear and gender-consistent. Because Portuguese is a gendered language, the choice of da immediately signals to the listener that the following noun is feminine and singular.

O perfume da flor é doce.

Translation: The flower's perfume is sweet.

Specific Locations: Used with cities or countries that are feminine. 'Ela gosta da França' (She likes France).

Using da correctly requires an understanding of noun gender. In Portuguese, every noun is either masculine or feminine. When you want to say 'of the' or 'from the' followed by a feminine singular noun, da is the required form. This contraction is a result of phonetic evolution where the 'e' in 'de' and the 'a' in 'a' merged to create a smoother sound. It is used to indicate relationship, origin, time, and specification.

A cor da parede é azul.

Translation: The color of the wall is blue.

Time Expressions: Used to specify times of day. 'São duas da tarde' (It is two in the afternoon).
Partitive Usage: Used to describe a part of a whole. 'Comi metade da maçã' (I ate half of the apple).

One of the most common uses for English speakers to master is the possessive. While English uses an apostrophe-s ('s), Portuguese uses the prepositional structure. 'The girl's book' becomes 'O livro da menina' (The book of the girl). Note how the word order flips. This is a critical mental shift for learners. You are not just translating words; you are restructuring the logic of the relationship between the objects.

Eu gosto da comida brasileira.

Translation: I like (of the) Brazilian food.

Furthermore, da is used in many fixed expressions and to indicate the source of information or physical movement. If you are coming from a specific feminine place, like a pharmacy (a farmácia) or a school (a escola), you would say 'Venho da farmácia' or 'Venho da escola'. The contraction provides a rhythmic flow to the language that is essential for sounding natural and fluent.

You will hear da everywhere in the Lusophone world. In the bustling streets of São Paulo, a person might ask for the price of a fruit: 'Qual é o preço da laranja?' (What is the price of the orange?). In a formal office in Lisbon, a secretary might refer to the company's policy: 'É a regra da empresa' (It is the rule of the company). It is a ubiquitous word that transcends social class and regional dialects.

A luz da manhã é linda.

Translation: The morning light is beautiful.

In music, particularly Bossa Nova and Samba, da is used to evoke imagery and belonging. Think of the famous song 'Garota de Ipanema'—while it uses 'de' because Ipanema is a place name that doesn't usually take an article, many other songs will use da to describe 'the girl of the street' (a garota da rua) or 'the light of the moon' (a luz da lua). The word carries a soft, melodic quality that fits perfectly into the cadence of Portuguese speech.

News and Media: Journalists use it to attribute quotes or sources. 'Segundo a nota da presidência...' (According to the presidency's note...).
Daily Errands: When shopping or navigating. 'Onde fica a saída da loja?' (Where is the store exit?).

Socially, da is also used in names. Many Portuguese and Brazilian surnames include 'da' (like 'da Silva' or 'da Costa'), originally indicating the family's origin or the estate they owned. Hearing these names is a constant reminder of the word's historical roots in defining identity and belonging. Whether you are reading a menu, listening to a podcast, or chatting with a neighbor, da is an inescapable and vital part of the linguistic landscape.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is failing to contract de and a. In English, 'of the' is two separate words, and learners often try to say 'de a' in Portuguese. This sounds very unnatural to native ears. Another common error is a gender mismatch—using da when the noun is masculine (which should be do) or using da when no article is needed at all.

Errado: O carro de a Maria.
Correto: O carro da Maria.

Gender Confusion: Using 'da' for masculine nouns. 'Da livro' is incorrect; it must be 'do livro'.
Over-contraction: Using 'da' when the noun doesn't take an article. For example, 'Eu venho da Londres' is usually wrong because London (Londres) doesn't take an article in Portuguese. It should be 'Eu venho de Londres'.

Learners also struggle with the placement of da in possessive structures. In English, we say 'The cat's tail'. In Portuguese, you must say 'The tail of the cat' (A cauda da gata). If you try to follow English word order, the sentence will be incomprehensible. Furthermore, remember that da is singular. If you are talking about multiple feminine things, you must use das.

Finally, be careful with proper names. In Brazil, it is very common to use articles before people's names (A Maria, O João), so you would say 'O livro da Maria'. However, in some regions or in very formal writing, the article might be omitted, leading to just 'O livro de Maria'. As a learner, using the article (and thus the contraction da) is generally safer and sounds more like a native speaker in daily life.

To master da, you must understand its relationship with its 'siblings' in the Portuguese prepositional family. These words all serve similar functions but vary based on gender and number. Choosing the right one is a matter of matching the noun that follows.

Do: The masculine singular version (de + o). Used for masculine nouns like 'do carro' (of the car).
Das: The feminine plural version (de + as). Used for plural feminine nouns like 'das meninas' (of the girls).
Dos: The masculine plural version (de + os). Used for plural masculine nouns like 'dos livros' (of the books).
De: The simple preposition without an article. Used for general categories or names that don't take articles. 'Copo de vidro' (glass cup) vs 'Copo da Maria' (Maria's cup).

Sometimes, you might see desta or daquela. These are contractions of 'de' with demonstrative pronouns ('esta' - this, 'aquela' - that). While they also mean 'of this' or 'of that', they are more specific than the simple 'of the' provided by da. Understanding these distinctions allows you to be more precise in your descriptions.

Não é a cor da mesa, é a cor desta mesa.

Translation: It's not the color of the table, it's the color of this table.

In some literary contexts, you might find 'dela', which is the contraction of 'de' + 'ela' (of her/hers). While da refers to a specific noun mentioned ('da Maria'), 'dela' is a pronoun used to avoid repetition. Mastery of da is the first step toward navigating these more complex contractions that define the elegance of Portuguese grammar.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

In Old Portuguese, the contraction was sometimes written as 'da' or 'd'a', but the modern form has been standardized for centuries. It is one of the most frequent words in the Portuguese language.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dɐ/

US /də/

Unstressed. It is a proclitic, meaning it leans phonetically on the word that follows it.

Rhymes With

Na Pra Ta Va La Ma Pa Sa

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'dah' with a long 'a'.
Over-emphasizing the word in a sentence.
Confusing it with the verb 'dá' (gives), which has an open, stressed 'a'.
Merging it too much with the next word in a way that obscures the 'd'.
Using a 'th' sound instead of a 'd' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Writing 2/5

Requires remembering to contract 'de' and 'a'.

Speaking 2/5

Must be pronounced quickly and without stress.

Listening 1/5

Common and easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

De A O Do É

Learn Next

Das Dos Na No Pela

Advanced

Desta Dela Donde Doutra Daquela

Grammar to Know

Contraction of 'de' + 'a'

de + a = da

Gender Agreement

da (feminine) vs do (masculine)

Number Agreement

da (singular) vs das (plural)

Possessive Structure

Object + da + Owner

Verbs requiring 'de'

Gostar de + a música = Gostar da música

Examples by Level

A caneta é da Maria.

The pen is Maria's.

Possession: 'da' connects the object to the owner.

Eu venho da escola.

I come from the school.

Origin: 'da' indicates the starting point.

A porta da casa é verde.

The door of the house is green.

Relationship: 'da' links a part to a whole.

Ela gosta da maçã.

She likes the apple.

Verb + Preposition: 'gostar' requires 'de', which contracts with 'a'.

Onde está a chave da sala?

Where is the room key?

Specification: 'da' identifies which key it is.

Eu sou da capital.

I am from the capital.

Origin: Used with feminine city descriptions.

A cor da flor é rosa.

The color of the flower is pink.

Attribute: 'da' links the attribute to the noun.

É o fim da rua.

It's the end of the street.

Location: 'da' indicates a specific point on the street.

São três horas da tarde.

It is three in the afternoon.

Time: 'da tarde' is a fixed expression for PM.

Nós precisamos da sua ajuda.

We need your help.

Verb + Preposition: 'precisar' requires 'de'.

Ela é da França.

She is from France.

Origin: Countries like France take the feminine article.

A janela da cozinha está aberta.

The kitchen window is open.

Location: Specific part of a specific room.

Eu gosto da música brasileira.

I like Brazilian music.

Preference: Specific category of music.

O gato está em cima da mesa.

The cat is on top of the table.

Prepositional phrase: 'em cima de' + 'a'.

A capital da Itália é Roma.

The capital of Italy is Rome.

Geography: Italy is feminine (a Itália).

Ele fala da vida dele.

He talks about his life.

Topic: 'falar de' (to talk about) + 'a vida'.

A importância da leitura é enorme.

The importance of reading is huge.

Abstract Noun: 'da' links importance to reading.

Ele saiu antes da festa acabar.

He left before the party ended.

Time: 'antes de' + 'a festa'.

A maioria da população concorda.

The majority of the population agrees.

Partitive: 'da' indicates the whole group.

Ela mora perto da praia.

She lives near the beach.

Proximity: 'perto de' + 'a praia'.

O sucesso depende da dedicação.

Success depends on dedication.

Verb + Preposition: 'depender' requires 'de'.

A luz da lua reflete no mar.

The moonlight reflects on the sea.

Source: 'da' indicates where the light comes from.

Eles falaram da nova proposta.

They spoke about the new proposal.

Topic: Specific feminine noun 'proposta'.

A causa da doença é desconhecida.

The cause of the disease is unknown.

Relationship: Linking cause to effect.

A estrutura da empresa mudou.

The company's structure changed.

Possession: Formal context.

Ela foi além da expectativa.

She went beyond expectation.

Prepositional phrase: 'além de' + 'a'.

A qualidade da obra é indiscutível.

The quality of the work is indisputable.

Evaluation: Linking quality to the object.

O resultado da pesquisa foi positivo.

The research result was positive.

Outcome: Specific feminine noun 'pesquisa'.

A voz da razão deve prevalecer.

The voice of reason must prevail.

Metaphor: 'da' used in an idiomatic way.

A beleza da natureza nos inspira.

The beauty of nature inspires us.

Abstract: Linking beauty to nature.

Ele faz parte da equipe técnica.

He is part of the technical team.

Membership: 'fazer parte de' + 'a'.

A notícia da vitória se espalhou.

The news of the victory spread.

Content: Linking news to the event.

A análise da conjuntura econômica é complexa.

The analysis of the economic situation is complex.

Technical: 'da' used in academic/economic context.

Nos termos da lei vigente, isso é proibido.

Under the terms of the current law, this is prohibited.

Legal: Fixed expression 'nos termos da'.

A fluidez da narrativa cativa o leitor.

The fluidity of the narrative captivates the reader.

Literary: Describing the quality of a text.

A essência da alma humana é um mistério.

The essence of the human soul is a mystery.

Philosophical: Linking essence to soul.

A despeito da chuva, o evento continuou.

Despite the rain, the event continued.

Conjunctional phrase: 'a despeito de' + 'a'.

A interpretação da norma exige cautela.

The interpretation of the rule requires caution.

Formal: Linking action to the object.

A magnitude da tragédia chocou o mundo.

The magnitude of the tragedy shocked the world.

Emphasis: Describing the scale of an event.

A busca da verdade é o objetivo da ciência.

The search for truth is the goal of science.

Abstract: Linking search to truth.

A sutiliza da ironia não foi percebida.

The subtlety of the irony was not perceived.

Nuance: Describing a rhetorical device.

O devir da história molda as civilizações.

The becoming of history shapes civilizations.

Philosophical: 'devir' (becoming) as a noun.

A hermenêutica da obra exige erudição.

The hermeneutics of the work requires erudition.

Academic: Highly specialized terminology.

A efemeridade da vida é um tema recorrente.

The ephemerality of life is a recurring theme.

Poetic: Linking abstract concepts.

A gênese da ideia remonta ao século passado.

The genesis of the idea dates back to the last century.

Historical: Linking origin to a concept.

A dialética da razão pura é um marco filosófico.

The dialectic of pure reason is a philosophical milestone.

Technical Philosophy: Kantian terminology.

A quintessência da arte reside na simplicidade.

The quintessence of art lies in simplicity.

Aesthetic: Using high-level vocabulary.

A transitoriedade da glória é bem conhecida.

The transience of glory is well known.

Literary: Describing the fleeting nature of fame.

Common Collocations

Da manhã

Da tarde

Da noite

Da Silva

Da paz

Da verdade

Da vida

Da cidade

Da família

Da escola

Common Phrases

Dona da casa

— The lady of the house or the owner.

Ela é a dona da casa.

Fora da caixa

— Thinking outside the box.

Precisamos de ideias fora da caixa.

Da cabeça aos pés

— From head to toe.

Ela estava molhada da cabeça aos pés.

Da melhor qualidade

— Of the best quality.

Este tecido é da melhor qualidade.

Da mesma forma

— In the same way.

Da mesma forma, eu concordo.

Da última vez

— The last time.

Da última vez, ele não veio.

Da próxima vez

— Next time.

Da próxima vez, eu pago.

Da parte de

— On behalf of.

Falo da parte da gerência.

Daqui a pouco

— In a little while.

Eu volto daqui a pouco.

Daqui para frente

— From now on.

Daqui para frente, tudo será diferente.

Often Confused With

Da vs Dá

This is a verb meaning 'gives'. It is stressed and has an open 'a' sound.

Da vs Do

This is the masculine version (de + o).

Da vs Das

This is the plural version (de + as).

Idioms & Expressions

"Cair da cama"

— To wake up much earlier than usual.

Hoje eu caí da cama!

Informal

"Da boca para fora"

— To say something without meaning it.

Ele disse que amava, mas foi da boca para fora.

Neutral

"Da pá virada"

— Someone who is troublesome or very energetic.

Aquele menino é da pá virada.

Informal

"Da noite para o dia"

— Overnight or very suddenly.

Ele ficou rico da noite para o dia.

Neutral

"Sair da linha"

— To misbehave or break the rules.

Não saia da linha durante a aula.

Informal

"Dar da perna"

— To hurry up or walk fast.

Temos que dar da perna para chegar a tempo.

Informal

"Estar na crista da onda"

— To be at the peak of success or popularity.

Essa banda está na crista da onda.

Neutral

"Luz da ribalta"

— The limelight or spotlight.

Ela adora estar na luz da ribalta.

Neutral

"Da ponta da orelha"

— Something excellent or very good (older slang).

O jantar estava da ponta da orelha.

Informal

"Fazer da tripa coração"

— To make a huge effort to overcome a difficulty.

Ela fez da tripa coração para sustentar a família.

Informal

Easily Confused

Da vs Dá

Spelling and sound are similar.

'Da' is a prepositional contraction (of the); 'Dá' is a verb (gives).

Ele dá a chave da casa.

Da vs Do

Both mean 'of the'.

'Da' is feminine; 'Do' is masculine.

O livro do menino e a caneta da menina.

Da vs De

Both involve the preposition 'of'.

'Da' includes 'the'; 'De' is just 'of'.

Copo de vidro vs. Copo da Maria.

Da vs Na

Both are contractions with 'a'.

'Da' is 'of the'; 'Na' is 'in the'.

A chave está na mesa da sala.

Da vs Das

Both are feminine contractions.

'Da' is singular; 'Das' is plural.

A cor da flor vs. A cor das flores.

Sentence Patterns

A [objeto] é da [pessoa].

A bola é da Ana.

Eu sou da [cidade/país].

Eu sou da Bahia.

São [número] horas da [período].

São cinco horas da tarde.

Eu gosto da [coisa].

Eu gosto da praia.

A [abstração] da [coisa] é [adjetivo].

A beleza da vida é simples.

Perto da [lugar].

Moro perto da escola.

O [resultado] da [ação] foi [adjetivo].

O resultado da prova foi bom.

Nos termos da [lei/norma].

Nos termos da lei vigente.

Word Family

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely High. It is among the top 20 most used words in Portuguese.

Common Mistakes

Eu sou de a França. → Eu sou da França.
The contraction of 'de' and 'a' is mandatory.
O livro da menino. → O livro do menino.
Menino is masculine, so you must use 'do'.
São duas de tarde. → São duas da tarde.
Time expressions require the definite article.
Gosto a música. → Gosto da música.
The verb 'gostar' requires the preposition 'de'.
A bolsa de Maria. → A bolsa da Maria.
While 'de Maria' is possible in formal/PT-PT, 'da Maria' is more common in daily speech.

Tips

Check Gender

Always verify if the noun following 'da' is feminine. If it's masculine, you must use 'do'.

Keep it Short

Don't linger on the 'a' sound. It should be a quick, neutral sound.

No Spaces

Remember that 'da' is one word. Never write 'd a' or 'de a'.

Place Names

Learn which countries and cities are feminine to use 'da' correctly for origins.

Flip the Order

When translating possession from English, remember to flip the order: 'Maria's house' -> 'Casa da Maria'.

Listen for the D

In fast speech, 'da' can be very subtle. Focus on the 'd' sound connecting words.

Time of Day

Always use 'da' for 'da manhã', 'da tarde', and 'da noite' when telling time.

Natural Flow

Using contractions like 'da' is what makes your Portuguese sound fluid and native-like.

Don't confuse with 'Dá'

The accent mark on 'dá' changes the meaning to 'gives'. 'Da' has no accent.

Daily Objects

Label feminine objects in your house and practice saying 'da' with them.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'DA' as 'D' for 'De' and 'A' for the feminine article. DA = DE + A.

Visual Association

Imagine a girl (feminine) holding a bag. The bag is 'DA' menina.

Word Web

Posse Origem Feminino Singular Contração Preposição Artigo Relação

Challenge

Try to find five feminine objects in your room and say who they belong to using 'da'. For example: 'A cadeira da sala'.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin preposition 'de' (of/from) and the Latin demonstrative 'illa' (that), which evolved into the Portuguese article 'a'. The contraction 'da' formed during the transition from Vulgar Latin to Old Portuguese.

Original meaning: Of the / From the (feminine).

Romance / Indo-European.

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but be aware that using or omitting articles with names can vary by region (Portugal vs. Brazil).

English speakers often struggle because they don't have mandatory contractions like this. In English, 'of the' is always two words, whereas in Portuguese, 'de a' is forbidden.

The surname 'da Silva' is the most common in the Lusophone world. The song 'Garota de Ipanema' (though it uses 'de' because of the place name). Vasco da Gama, the famous Portuguese explorer.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At Home

A chave da porta
A luz da sala
A mesa da cozinha
A cor da parede

At School

O livro da biblioteca
A nota da prova
A aula da professora
A saída da escola

In the City

O centro da cidade
A rua da farmácia
A entrada da loja
A praça da igreja

Time

Sete da manhã
Uma da tarde
Dez da noite
A hora da janta

Relationships

A mãe da Maria
A amiga da Ana
A irmã da noiva
A colega da firma

Conversation Starters

"Qual é a cor da sua casa?"

"Você gosta da comida brasileira?"

"Que horas da manhã você acorda?"

"Você é da capital ou do interior?"

"Qual é o nome da sua rua?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva a decoração da sua sala favorita.

Escreva sobre a importância da educação na sua vida.

Fale sobre uma viagem que você fez para fora da sua cidade.

O que você mais gosta da cultura portuguesa?

Descreva a rotina da sua manhã.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, in Portuguese, this contraction is mandatory. Saying 'de a' is grammatically incorrect and sounds very unnatural.

You must look at the gender of the noun that follows. If the noun is feminine (like 'casa', 'escola', 'menina'), use 'da'. If it's masculine, use 'do'.

Yes, especially in Brazil. It is common to say 'O carro da Maria'. In Portugal, it is also common, though in some formal contexts the article might be dropped.

It literally means 'of the morning', but it is used to mean 'AM' or 'in the morning' when telling time.

No. Some cities take articles (like 'da Bahia', 'da Filadélfia') and others don't (like 'de Londres', 'de São Paulo'). You have to learn which ones do.

'Da' is followed by a noun (da Maria), while 'dela' is a pronoun that stands alone (O livro é dela).

Yes. It can mean both 'of the' (possession) and 'from the' (origin). Example: 'Eu venho da escola'.

Historically, it indicated the family's place of origin or the estate they owned, such as 'da Silva' (from the forest).

Yes, the prepositional contraction 'da' is unstressed. The verb 'dá' is stressed.

You use 'das'. Example: 'As chaves das portas'.