Portuguese Phrase
Depende do país.
Meaning
Literally ‘It depends on the country.’ The phrase is used to indicate that a situation, rule, or opinion varies according to the nation being discussed.
When to use
Use this sentence when comparing laws, customs, prices, climate, or any other factor that changes from one country to another. It works both in casual conversation and in more formal explanations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dependedopaís
Depende (verbo)
‘Depende’ is the third‑person singular present of the verb ‘dependere’, used impersonally to mean ‘it depends’.
do = de + o
‘do’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘de’ + the masculine singular definite article ‘o’, required before a masculine noun like ‘país’.
país (substantivo masculino)
‘país’ is a masculine noun; therefore it takes the article ‘o’ (do país) and the accent on the í.
🗨In Conversation
É barato viajar para a Europa?
Is it cheap to travel to Europe?
Depende do país.
It depends on the country.
✕Common Mistakes
Depende de país.
The article ‘o’ is required before a masculine noun; use ‘do país’ instead of just ‘de país’.
Depende do pais.
Missing accent on ‘í’; the correct spelling is ‘país’.
Depende do país?
When stating a fact, use a period. A question mark changes the meaning to ‘Does it depend on the country?’
↔Alternatives
Depende do lugar.
It depends on the place.
Depende da nação.
It depends on the nation.
Depende de onde você está.
It depends on where you are.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese, the verb ‘depender’ almost always appears with the preposition ‘de’. When the noun that follows is masculine and definite, the contraction ‘do’ (de + o) is mandatory. Also, remember the accent on ‘país’; omitting it changes the pronunciation and can be seen as a spelling mistake.