Portuguese Phrase
Como endereçar esta carta?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the correct way to write the address on a specific letter. It is a practical question you might hear in a classroom, at a post office, or when helping someone prepare a piece of correspondence.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need guidance on the format of the recipient’s name, street, city, and postal code on a letter, especially in formal or business contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Comoendereçarestacarta?
Como (How)
Interrogative adverb used to ask about manner or method.
endereçar (to address)
Infinitive verb meaning ‘to write an address on a letter or package’. Note the accent on the first ‘e’ and the final ‘‑ar’ ending.
esta (this)
Demonstrative adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (carta – feminine singular).
carta (letter)
Feminine noun meaning ‘letter (mail)’. In Portuguese, nouns have gender, so adjectives must match.
🗨In Conversation
Como endereçar esta carta?
How should I address this letter?
Comece com o nome completo do destinatário, depois o cargo, a empresa, e por fim o endereço completo.
Start with the recipient’s full name, then the title, the company, and finally the full address.
✕Common Mistakes
Como endereço esta carta?
‘Endereço’ is a noun meaning ‘address’. The verb ‘to address (a letter)’ is ‘endereçar’.
Como endereçar essa carta?
If you want to refer to a specific letter that is close to you, ‘esta’ is correct; otherwise, use ‘essa’ for a letter farther away.
↔Alternatives
Qual é a forma correta de endereçar esta carta?
What is the correct way to address this letter?
Como devo colocar o endereço nesta carta?
How should I put the address on this letter?
Pode me mostrar como endereçar a carta?
Can you show me how to address the letter?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, formal letters usually start with the recipient’s full name, followed by any titles (Dr., Sr., Sra., etc.), then the company or institution, and finally the street, number, neighborhood, city, state, and CEP (postal code). For personal letters, a simpler format—name and address—suffices. Remember to write the sender’s address on the top left or on the back of the envelope.