Portuguese Phrase
Você vai à escola a pé?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the listener walks to school. It focuses on the mode of transportation rather than the destination itself, and it is phrased as a yes‑no question.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know how someone gets to school, especially in casual conversation about daily routines, health habits, or when planning a meet‑up.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vocêvaiàescolaapé?
Você (subject pronoun)
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'você' is the most common informal second‑person singular pronoun, and it triggers third‑person verb conjugation.
Vai (present of ir)
The verb 'ir' is irregular; 'vai' is the third‑person singular present form used with 'você'.
À (contraction)
The preposition 'a' + the feminine definite article 'a' contract to 'à', indicating direction toward a feminine noun (escola).
A pé (idiom)
Literally 'by foot', this fixed expression means 'on foot' or 'walking'. It is placed after the verb of motion.
🗨In Conversation
Você vai à escola a pé?
Do you walk to school?
Não, eu vou de ônibus.
No, I take the bus.
✕Common Mistakes
Você vai a escola a pé?
Missing the accent on the contraction; it should be 'à escola' (a + a).
Você vai a pé na escola?
The idiom 'a pé' does not take a preposition before the destination; use 'à escola' instead.
Você vai a pé de escola?
The preposition 'de' changes the meaning to 'from the school'; the correct phrase asks about going to the school.
↔Alternatives
Você vai a pé para a escola?
Do you walk to school?
Anda a pé até a escola?
Do you walk to school?
Você vai à escola a pé ou de carro?
Do you go to school on foot or by car?
Cultural Tip
In many Brazilian cities, walking to school is common in smaller neighborhoods, but in larger urban areas students often rely on buses, bikes, or car rides. The expression 'a pé' is considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but in very casual speech people might simply say 'vou a pé' without the article.