Portuguese Phrase
Devo voltar a entrar numa casa em chamas?
Meaning
The sentence asks whether the speaker should re‑enter a house that is currently on fire. It can be literal – a firefighter wondering about a rescue – or figurative, referring to a risky or emotionally painful situation that one is tempted to revisit.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing dangerous or high‑stakes scenarios, either in a real‑life emergency context or metaphorically when talking about repeating a painful experience.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Devovoltaraentrarnumacasaemchamas
Devo (modal verb)
‘Devo’ is the first‑person singular of the modal verb ‘dever’, used to express obligation or recommendation.
Voltar a + infinitive
The construction ‘voltar a’ + infinitive means ‘to do something again’ or ‘to return to doing something’.
Num(a) – contraction
‘Numa’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘em’ + the feminine article ‘uma’, equivalent to ‘in a’.
Em chamas
‘Em chamas’ is a fixed expression meaning ‘on fire’ or ‘burning’. It works like an adjective phrase.
🗨In Conversation
Devo voltar a entrar numa casa em chamas?
Should I go back into a burning house?
Só se houver alguém preso lá dentro; caso contrário, é melhor esperar os bombeiros.
Only if someone is trapped inside; otherwise, it's better to wait for the firefighters.
✕Common Mistakes
Devo voltar entrar numa casa em chamas?
The infinitive must be introduced by the preposition ‘a’; ‘voltar entrar’ is ungrammatical.
Devo voltar a entrar num casa em chamas?
‘Num’ contracts with a masculine noun; with the feminine ‘casa’ you need ‘numa’.
Devo voltar a entrar numa casa em fogo?
While ‘em fogo’ is understandable, the idiomatic expression is ‘em chamas’.
↔Alternatives
Preciso entrar novamente numa casa em chamas?
Do I need to enter a burning house again?
É seguro voltar a entrar numa casa em chamas?
Is it safe to go back into a burning house?
Devo arriscar entrar outra vez numa casa em chamas?
Should I risk entering a burning house again?
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese‑speaking countries, safety is taken very seriously. In emergency drills, the phrase ‘não entrar em casa em chamas’ (don’t enter a burning house) is a standard warning. Metaphorically, Portuguese speakers also use ‘casa em chamas’ to describe a relationship or project that is in crisis, so be aware of the figurative nuance when you hear it in conversation.