Portuguese Phrase
O que faz um professor?
Meaning
The sentence asks about the duties or daily activities of a teacher. It can be used to learn about the profession, compare teaching styles, or simply satisfy curiosity about what a teacher actually does in the classroom.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know a teacher's responsibilities, when discussing career choices, or when you are a student asking a teacher to explain their role. It works both in formal settings (e.g., an interview) and informal conversations with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oquefazumprofessor?
O (definite article)
Used here as part of the interrogative phrase 'O que', meaning 'what'.
que (relative pronoun)
Introduces the question; together with 'O' it forms the fixed phrase 'O que' = 'what'.
faz (verb fazer, 3rd person singular)
Present indicative of 'fazer' (to do/make). Conjugated as 'faz' for he/she/it.
um (indefinite article)
Means 'a' or 'an' and agrees in gender with the noun that follows.
professor (noun, masculine)
Means 'teacher' or 'professor'. The masculine form; the feminine is 'professora'.
? (question mark)
Marks the sentence as a question in written Portuguese.
🗨In Conversation
O que faz um professor?
What does a teacher do?
Ele prepara aulas, corrige provas, dá explicações e ajuda os alunos a aprender.
He prepares lessons, grades exams, gives explanations and helps students learn.
✕Common Mistakes
O que fazem um professor?
The verb must agree with the singular subject 'um professor', so use 'faz' not 'fazem'.
O que faz uma professor?
The noun 'professor' is masculine; the feminine form is 'professora'.
O que faz professor?
Missing the indefinite article 'um' makes the sentence sound incomplete.
↔Alternatives
Qual é a função de um professor?
What is the role of a teacher?
O que um professor faz no dia a dia?
What does a teacher do day‑to‑day?
O que faz um professor na escola?
What does a teacher do at school?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, teachers are traditionally respected and often addressed as 'Professor' (or 'Professora') even outside the classroom. When asking this question to a teacher, it’s polite to use the formal 'O senhor' or 'A senhora' before the question, e.g., 'O que o senhor faz como professor?'. In informal settings among peers, the shorter version works fine.