Portuguese Phrase
Era o primeiro de janeiro.
Meaning
This phrase uses the imperfect tense of the verb 'ser' (era) to describe a point in time or set a scene in the past. It refers specifically to New Year's Day, which is the start of the calendar year.
When to use
Use this phrase when telling a story or providing background information about an event that happened on New Year's Day. It is commonly used in literature or personal anecdotes to establish the setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Eraoprimeirodejaneiro
Era
The imperfect form of 'ser', used for descriptions, time, and background states in the past.
Primeiro
The ordinal number for 'first'. It is the mandatory way to say the first day of any month in Portuguese.
🗨In Conversation
Quando vocês chegaram em Lisboa?
When did you arrive in Lisbon?
Era o primeiro de janeiro.
It was the first of January.
✕Common Mistakes
Foi o primeiro de janeiro.
While grammatically possible, 'era' is preferred for setting a descriptive background in the past, whereas 'foi' suggests a completed event.
Era o um de janeiro.
In Portuguese, the first day of the month is always referred to using the ordinal number 'primeiro' rather than the cardinal 'um'.
↔Alternatives
Era dia primeiro de janeiro.
It was the first day of January.
Aconteceu no dia primeiro de janeiro.
It happened on the first of January.
Cultural Tip
In all Portuguese-speaking countries, the first of January is a major national holiday. A unique linguistic feature is that Portuguese speakers only use the ordinal number 'primeiro' for the first day of the month; for all other days, they use cardinal numbers (dois, três, etc.).