Portuguese Phrase
Este maio está muito mais frio do que o normal.
Meaning
‘This May is much colder than usual.’ The speaker is comparing the current temperature of the month of May with what is typically expected for that time of year.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to comment on an unusually cold May, whether you’re talking about the weather in your city, planning a trip, or just making small talk about the climate.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estemaioestámuitomaisfriodoqueonormal.
Este (demonstrative adjective)
Used to point out a specific noun that is close to the speaker; agrees in gender and number with the noun.
Estar (temporary state)
Estar is used for conditions that can change, such as weather; it is conjugated here in the 3rd‑person singular present.
Muito + mais (intensifier)
‘Muito’ intensifies the comparative ‘mais’, meaning ‘much more’.
Do que (comparative conjunction)
The fixed structure ‘mais … do que’ introduces the element of comparison.
O normal (noun phrase)
‘Normal’ works as a noun meaning ‘the usual/average’; the article ‘o’ makes the comparison concrete.
🗨In Conversation
Este maio está muito mais frio do que o normal.
This May is much colder than usual.
É verdade, eu tive que colocar um casaco mais pesado hoje.
That's true, I had to wear a heavier jacket today.
✕Common Mistakes
Este maio é muito mais frio do que o normal.
Use ‘estar’ for temporary weather conditions; ‘ser’ describes permanent traits.
Este maio está muito mais frio que o normal.
The comparative structure requires ‘do que’, not just ‘que’.
Este maio está mais frio do que o normal.
If you drop ‘muito’, the meaning changes to ‘more cold’ rather than ‘much more cold’.
↔Alternatives
Este mês de maio está muito mais frio que o normal.
This month of May is much colder than normal.
O clima de maio está bem mais frio do que o habitual.
The May weather is quite a bit colder than usual.
Maio está mais frio do que costuma ser.
May is colder than it usually is.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, May marks the transition from summer to autumn, so temperatures can vary widely from the tropical north to the subtropical south. Saying ‘frio’ is appropriate when the temperature feels noticeably lower than the typical May climate in your region. Avoid using ‘gelado’ (freezing) unless the temperature is truly near zero.