Estar com + substantivo (estados)
Estar com + substantivo (estados) means “estar com + noun: express momentary states (hunger, cold, fear)”. In Portuguese many physical sensations and emotional states are expressed with estar com + a bare noun, without any article. Formation: estar + com + substantivo (sem artigo)
estar com + noun: express momentary states (hunger, cold, fear)
A2Formation
estar + com + substantivo (sem artigo)
Explanation
In Portuguese many physical sensations and emotional states are expressed with estar com + a bare noun, without any article. English uses an adjective here (be hungry), but Portuguese uses a noun: estar com fome, com sede, com sono, com frio, com calor, com pressa, com medo, com raiva, com dor, com saudade, com razão. The pattern is always estar + com + NOUN, as in Estou com fome (I'm hungry). Ter fome also exists, but Brazilian speech strongly prefers estar com fome for a state of the moment; ter fome sounds more general or literary. Never use ser here (sou com fome is wrong), because these are temporary states. Watch out if you speak Spanish: Spanish uses tener (tengo hambre) exactly where Portuguese uses estar com.
Examples
Note
Never use ser here: 'sou com fome' is wrong. Spanish uses tener (tengo hambre, tengo prisa); Portuguese always uses estar com (estou com fome, estou com pressa).
FAQ
Estar com + substantivo (estados) — what does it mean and how is it used?
estar com + noun: express momentary states (hunger, cold, fear). In Portuguese many physical sensations and emotional states are expressed with estar com + a bare noun, without any article. English uses an adjective here (be hungry), but Portuguese uses a noun: estar com fome, com sede, com sono, com frio, com calor, com pressa, com medo, com raiva, com dor, com saudade, com razão. The pattern is always estar + com + NOUN, as in Estou com fome (I'm hungry). Ter fome also exists, but Brazilian speech strongly prefers estar com fome for a state of the moment; ter fome sounds more general or literary. Never use ser here (sou com fome is wrong), because these are temporary states. Watch out if you speak Spanish: Spanish uses tener (tengo hambre) exactly where Portuguese uses estar com.
Estar com + substantivo (estados) — how do you form it?
estar + com + substantivo (sem artigo)
Estar com + substantivo (estados) — any usage notes?
Never use ser here: 'sou com fome' is wrong. Spanish uses tener (tengo hambre, tengo prisa); Portuguese always uses estar com (estou com fome, estou com pressa).