Portuguese Phrase
Dá uma olhada nele a cada seis meses.
Meaning
This phrase is a common way to suggest a periodic check-up or maintenance on something. 'Dá uma olhada' literally means 'give a look,' which is the idiomatic equivalent of 'take a look' or 'check.' It implies a casual but necessary inspection.
When to use
Use this when advising someone to perform routine maintenance on a car, an appliance, or even a health check. It is informal and very common in daily Brazilian Portuguese.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dáuma olhadanelea cadaseis meses
Imperative 'Dá'
The verb 'dar' is used here in the informal imperative to give a suggestion or command.
Contraction 'Nele'
This is the combination of the preposition 'em' (in/at) and the pronoun 'ele' (him/it) to refer to a masculine object.
🗨In Conversation
Meu carro está um pouco velho.
My car is a bit old.
Dá uma olhada nele a cada seis meses.
Take a look at it every six months.
✕Common Mistakes
Dá um olhar nele a cada seis meses.
Use the noun 'olhada' for the idiomatic expression 'take a look' instead of the infinitive verb 'olhar'.
Dá uma olhada em ele a cada seis meses.
In Portuguese, the preposition 'em' and the pronoun 'ele' must contract to 'nele'.
↔Alternatives
Verifique-o a cada seis meses.
Check it every six months.
Dê uma conferida nele semestralmente.
Give it a check-up semi-annually.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the verb 'dar' (to give) is used in many idiomatic expressions like 'dar uma olhada' or 'dar uma volta.' Using these makes your Portuguese sound much more natural and less like a textbook translation.