Portuguese Phrase
Comecei a colecionar desde criança.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that they began the hobby of collecting when they were still a child. It emphasizes the long‑standing nature of the activity.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to explain the origin of a hobby, a habit, or a passion that started early in life. It works well in casual conversation, autobiographical introductions, or when answering questions about your interests.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Comeceiacolecionardesdecriança.
Comecei (pretérito perfeito)
‘Comecei’ is the first‑person singular preterite of ‘começar’, indicating a completed action in the past.
a + infinitivo
The preposition ‘a’ introduces an infinitive verb, similar to ‘to’ in English.
colecionar (infinitivo)
‘Colecionar’ means ‘to collect’; it remains in the infinitive after ‘a’.
desde + substantivo
‘Desde’ is a preposition meaning ‘since’; when followed directly by a noun (e.g., ‘criança’) it indicates the starting point of an action.
criança (substantivo)
‘Criança’ means ‘child’; here it functions as a temporal noun, equivalent to ‘when I was a child’.
🗨In Conversation
Você tem alguma coleção?
Do you have any collection?
Sim, comecei a colecionar desde criança.
Yes, I started collecting since I was a child.
✕Common Mistakes
Comecei a colecionar desde que criança.
‘Desde que’ needs a clause (e.g., ‘desde que eu era criança’). With a noun alone, just use ‘desde’.
Comecei a colecionar quando eu era criança.
While not wrong, this version is longer; learners often over‑translate English ‘when I was a child’ instead of using the more natural ‘desde criança’.
↔Alternatives
Iniciei a coleção quando era criança.
I started the collection when I was a child.
Comecei a colecionar ainda na infância.
I began collecting back in my childhood.
Desde pequeno, já colecionava coisas.
Since I was little, I was already collecting things.
Cultural Tip
Collecting (coins, stamps, action figures, etc.) is a popular pastime in Brazil, often passed down through families. When you mention a lifelong hobby, Brazilians usually ask follow‑up questions about the items you collect, showing genuine interest. Keep the tone friendly and informal unless you’re speaking in a formal interview setting.