SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At Home

Portuguese Phrase

Vamos começar pelo armário.

/vaˈmos ko.meˈsaɾ pu ˈaɾ.ma.ɾju/
Meaning"Let's start with the closet."
💡

Meaning

Literally, ‘Let’s start with the closet.’ The sentence is used to propose that the first step in a task—often cleaning, organizing, or arranging a room—should focus on the closet.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you’re planning a step‑by‑step activity and want to indicate that the closet is the logical first point of action, such as during house cleaning, moving, or setting up a new space.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Vamoscomeçarpeloarmário

1

Vamos + infinitive

The verb ‘ir’ in the first‑person plural (vamos) followed by an infinitive forms a suggestion meaning ‘let’s …’.

2

começar

Infinitive verb meaning ‘to start’; used here after ‘vamos’ to indicate the action we’ll take.

3

pelo (por + o)

Contraction of the preposition ‘por’ + definite article ‘o’, meaning ‘by the / through the’; here it marks the starting point.

4

armário

Masculine noun meaning ‘closet’ or ‘wardrobe’; the object we’ll begin with.

🗨In Conversation

A

Como vamos organizar a casa?

How are we going to organize the house?

Vamos começar pelo armário.

Let's start with the closet.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Vamos começar por o armário.

    ‘Por o’ should be contracted to ‘pelo’; the separated form is ungrammatical in this context.

  • Vamos começar no armário.

    ‘No armário’ means ‘in the closet’, which changes the meaning; the phrase needs ‘pelo’ to indicate a starting point.

  • Vamos começar o armário.

    The verb ‘começar’ requires a prepositional phrase indicating what you start with; omitting ‘pelo’ makes the sentence incomplete.

↔Alternatives

  • Vamos iniciar pelo armário.

    Let's begin with the closet.

  • Comecemos pelo armário.

    Let's start with the closet.

  • Primeiro, vamos ao armário.

    First, let's go to the closet.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazilian and European Portuguese, ‘Vamos + infinitive’ is the most common way to make a friendly suggestion. The contraction ‘pelo’ (por + o) is used frequently in everyday speech; avoid separating it, as ‘por o armário’ sounds unnatural. Also, the phrase carries a casual, collaborative tone—perfect for teamwork or family projects.