Portuguese Phrase
A primavera começa em março.
Meaning
This phrase is a factual statement about the change of seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. It uses the present tense of the verb 'começar' to indicate a recurring or general truth.
When to use
Use this sentence when discussing the calendar, weather patterns, or seasonal activities. It is common in both casual conversation and educational contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aprimaveracomeçaemmarço
Definite Article
Seasons in Portuguese are almost always preceded by a definite article, in this case, the feminine 'A'.
Preposition 'Em'
Use 'em' to say 'in' when referring to months. It doesn't contract into 'no' unless you are referring to a specific year's month.
🗨In Conversation
Quando o tempo começa a aquecer?
When does the weather start to warm up?
A primavera começa em março.
Spring starts in March.
✕Common Mistakes
A primavera começa no março.
In Portuguese, we generally use the preposition 'em' before months without a definite article.
A primavera começa em Março.
Unlike English, months are typically not capitalized in Portuguese unless they start a sentence.
↔Alternatives
A primavera chega em março.
Spring arrives in March.
O início da primavera é em março.
The beginning of spring is in March.
Cultural Tip
While this phrase is accurate for Portugal, remember that in Brazil, the seasons are reversed. In the Southern Hemisphere, spring actually begins in September, so your Brazilian friends might find this sentence confusing without context!