Portuguese Phrase
O que a gente pode jogar fora?
Meaning
This phrase is used to ask which items are no longer needed and can be discarded. It uses the informal 'a gente' to mean 'we' and the phrasal verb 'jogar fora' for disposing of things.
When to use
Use this when you are cleaning a shared space, decluttering a room, or helping someone organize their belongings. It is common in both domestic and casual work environments.
✦Grammar Breakdown
O quea gentepodejogar fora
A gente
This is a very common informal way to say 'we' in Portuguese. It always conjugates verbs in the third-person singular (like 'ele' or 'ela').
Jogar fora
A phrasal verb where 'jogar' means 'to throw' and 'fora' means 'out' or 'away'. Together they mean 'to discard'.
🗨In Conversation
Nossa, quanta bagunça neste armário!
Wow, what a mess in this closet!
O que a gente pode jogar fora?
What can we throw away?
✕Common Mistakes
O que a gente podemos jogar fora?
Even though 'a gente' means 'we', it always takes the third-person singular verb form.
O que a gente pode jogar para fora?
'Jogar fora' is the idiomatic expression for discarding; adding 'para' changes the meaning to physically throwing something out of an opening like a window.
↔Alternatives
O que podemos descartar?
What can we discard?
O que vai para o lixo?
What is going to the trash?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, using 'a gente' is significantly more common in spoken language than 'nós'. When cleaning, it is also common to distinguish between 'lixo orgânico' (organic waste) and 'lixo reciclável' (recycling) in larger cities.