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Portuguese Phrase

Sim, podemos mandá-los pra cima.

/sĩ poˈde.mus mɐ̃ˈda.lus pɾa ˈsi.ma/
Meaning"Yes, we can send them up."
💡

Meaning

The speaker confirms that they are able to send or move something (or someone) upward. It can refer to physically taking objects to a higher floor, sending a message to a higher authority, or even a figurative “raise”.

🎯

When to use

Use this sentence in informal spoken Portuguese when you want to agree to move something upward. The colloquial “pra” and the enclitic pronoun make it sound natural in everyday conversation.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Sim,podemosmandá-lospracima.

1

Sim

A simple affirmative word meaning “yes”.

2

Podemos

First‑person plural present of poder – “we can”.

3

Mandá‑los

Infinitive + enclitic pronoun “‑los”. The acute accent marks the stressed syllable when a pronoun is attached to an infinitive.

4

Pra

Colloquial contraction of the preposition “para”. Use “para” in formal writing.

5

Cima

Literally “top” or “up”; when used after “para” it works like an adverb meaning “upward”.

🗨In Conversation

A

Precisamos levar as caixas para o andar de cima.

We need to take the boxes to the upstairs.

Sim, podemos mandá-los pra cima.

Yes, we can send them up.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Sim, podemos mandar eles pra cima.

    Pronoun must be attached to the infinitive as an enclitic (mandá‑los).

  • Sim, podemos mandá‑los para cima.

    In informal speech “pra cima” is natural; using “para cima” is not wrong but sounds formal.

  • Sim, podemos manda‑los pra cima.

    The acute accent is required; without it the stress falls on the wrong syllable.

↔Alternatives

  • Sim, podemos levá‑los para cima.

    Yes, we can take them up.

  • Claro, vamos enviá‑los ao andar superior.

    Sure, we’ll send them to the upper floor.

  • Com certeza, podemos subir eles.

    Certainly, we can bring them up.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, “pra” is the everyday spoken form of “para”. When you write formally (e.g., emails, essays) replace it with “para”. The accent in “mandá‑los” is mandatory; it signals that the stress stays on the verb when the pronoun is attached. Forgetting the accent or separating the pronoun (e.g., “mandar eles”) is a common learner error.