Portuguese Phrase
Que matérias você está cursando este ano?
Meaning
This phrase is a direct way to inquire about someone's academic schedule. It asks specifically about the "matérias" (subjects or courses) that a person is "cursando" (taking or studying) during the current academic year. It's a common question among students, parents, or anyone interested in someone's educational path.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know what classes or subjects someone is enrolled in for the current academic period. It's suitable for conversations with students, whether in high school, college, or even adult education, and is generally informal to semi-formal depending on the context and relationship.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quematériasvocêestá cursandoeste ano
Que
"Que" is used here as an interrogative pronoun meaning "what" or "which" before a plural noun. It's general, asking for information about the subjects.
Matérias
This is the plural feminine noun for "subjects" or "courses." It's a key vocabulary word for academic contexts.
Você
This is the informal/standard second-person singular pronoun "you." In Brazil, "você" is widely used in most contexts, making it suitable for most conversations.
Está cursando
This is the present continuous (or present progressive) tense, formed by "estar" (to be) + gerund (-ndo). It indicates an action happening right now or over a period of time, like "this year."
Este ano
"Este" means "this" and "ano" means "year." "Este" is used for masculine singular nouns, agreeing with "ano."
🗨In Conversation
Oi, tudo bem? Que matérias você está cursando este ano?
Hi, how are you? What subjects are you taking this year?
Tudo ótimo! Estou cursando Matemática, História e Português.
All great! I'm taking Math, History, and Portuguese.
✕Common Mistakes
Qual matérias você está cursando este ano?
"Que" is used before plural nouns when asking "what" or "which" in a general sense. "Qual" is typically used before singular nouns or when choosing from a specific, limited set.
Que matérias você cursa este ano?
While "cursa" (simple present) isn't strictly wrong, "está cursando" (present continuous) emphasizes the ongoing action of *currently* taking the subjects, which is more natural for "this year."
Que matérias você está fazendo este ano?
While "fazer" (to do/make) can sometimes be used for "taking a course," "cursar" is the more specific and appropriate verb for "to take a subject/course" in an academic context.
↔Alternatives
Quais disciplinas você está estudando?
Which disciplines are you studying?
O que você está estudando na escola/faculdade este ano?
What are you studying at school/university this year?
Quais são as suas matérias este ano?
What are your subjects this year?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it's common for people to discuss their academic pursuits, especially among younger individuals or when meeting new people in an educational setting. The term "matérias" is widely understood for school subjects. While "disciplinas" is also correct, "matérias" is perhaps more common in everyday conversation. The academic year typically starts in February/March and ends in December, with a mid-year break in July.