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Portuguese Phrase

É este o portão certo?

/e ˈɛʃ.tɨ u poɾˈtɐ̃w ˈsɛɾ.tu/
Meaning"Is this the right gate?"
💡

Meaning

The speaker is asking for confirmation that the gate they are looking at is the correct one to use. It’s a direct way to verify a location before proceeding.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you arrive at a complex with several entrances—universities, apartment buildings, event venues, or any place where you need to be sure you’re at the right gate.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Éesteoportãocerto?

1

É (ser)

The verb 'ser' is used for identification; in questions it appears before the subject without inversion.

2

este (demonstrative)

‘Este’ points to something close to the speaker, equivalent to ‘this’.

3

o (definite article)

The masculine singular article that agrees with the noun ‘portão’.

4

portão (noun)

Means ‘gate’; a masculine noun that takes the article ‘o’.

5

certo (adjective)

Used after the noun to mean ‘right’ or ‘correct’; it agrees in gender (certo for masculine).

6

Question formation

Portuguese yes‑no questions often keep the statement order and rely on intonation; the verb ‘ser’ stays at the start.

🗨In Conversation

A

É este o portão certo?

Is this the right gate?

Sim, é por aqui que você entra no prédio principal.

Yes, this is the gate you use to enter the main building.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • É esse o portão certo?

    ‘Esse’ refers to something near the listener; use ‘este’ for something close to you.

  • Está este o portão certo?

    ‘Estar’ describes temporary states, not identification; the correct verb is ‘ser’.

  • É este o portão certa?

    The noun ‘portão’ is masculine, so the adjective must be masculine ‘certo’.

  • É este portão certo?

    Omitting the article ‘o’ makes the sentence sound incomplete.

↔Alternatives

  • Este é o portão correto?

    Is this the correct gate?

  • É o portão certo?

    Is it the right gate?

  • Este é o portão que devo usar?

    Is this the gate I should use?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil many campuses and residential complexes have several entrances, each marked with a number or name. It’s common to ask “É este o portão certo?” politely, often adding ‘por favor’ or a smile. Remember that ‘certo’ can also mean ‘sure’ in other contexts, so the meaning is clarified by the noun that follows it.