Portuguese Phrase
Fica no centro, perto do parque.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener where something is situated: it is in the downtown area and it is close to the park. It combines two spatial references to give a clearer picture of the location.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving directions, describing the location of a shop, restaurant, hotel, or any point of interest, especially in casual conversation with friends or tourists.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ficanocentro,pertodoparque.
Ficar (verb)
Ficar means ‘to be located’ or ‘to stay’; it is used for describing the position of something.
no = em + o
The preposition em (in/at) contracts with the masculine singular article o, forming no.
perto de
Perto de means ‘near’; it is followed by the contracted preposition + article (do, da, dos, das).
do = de + o
The preposition de (of/from) contracts with the masculine singular article o, forming do.
Comma usage
A comma separates two location descriptors that could be said independently.
🗨In Conversation
Onde fica o restaurante?
Where is the restaurant?
Fica no centro, perto do parque.
It’s in the downtown area, near the park.
✕Common Mistakes
Está no centro, perto do parque.
‘Estar’ can be used, but ‘ficar’ is the natural choice for permanent location; learners often mix them up.
perto em o parque.
The correct preposition is ‘de’, not ‘em’; the contraction is ‘do’ (de + o).
Fica no centro perto do parque.
A comma is recommended to separate the two descriptors; without it the sentence sounds rushed.
↔Alternatives
Está no centro, próximo ao parque.
It’s in the center, close to the park.
Localiza‑se no centro, ao lado do parque.
It is located in the center, next to the park.
Fica no centro, ao lado do parque.
It’s in the center, beside the park.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, ‘ficar’ is the go‑to verb for describing where something is, while ‘estar’ is more about temporary states. ‘Perto de’ is informal and very common; for a slightly more formal tone you can use ‘próximo a’ or ‘adjacente ao’. Also, Brazilians often give two reference points (like a neighborhood and a landmark) to make directions clearer.