Plural dos substantivos compostos
Plural dos substantivos compostos means “plurals of compound (hyphenated) nouns”. The rule depends on how the compound is built. Formation: [subst+subst / subst+adj] os dois → plural (couves-flores) · [verbo/invariavel + subst] só o subst → plural (guarda-chuvas) · [elementos ligados por preposicao] só o primeiro (pes-de-moleque)
plurals of compound (hyphenated) nouns
B2Formation
[subst+subst / subst+adj] os dois → plural (couves-flores) · [verbo/invariavel + subst] só o subst → plural (guarda-chuvas) · [elementos ligados por preposicao] só o primeiro (pes-de-moleque)
Explanation
The rule depends on how the compound is built. If it joins two nouns, or a noun and an adjective, both parts go to the plural (couve-flor > couves-flores, segunda-feira > segundas-feiras). If the first part is a verb or an invariable word, it stays fixed and only the noun changes (guarda-chuva > guarda-chuvas, because guarda comes from the verb guardar). When the elements are joined by a preposition, only the first one varies (pé-de-moleque > pés-de-moleque). The trick is always to ask: is the first word a verb or a noun? Compare guarda-chuva (verb, fixed) with guarda-noturno (noun, guardas-noturnos).
Examples
Note
Unlike Spanish, which almost always pluralizes the compound only at the end (los guardarropas, and los paraguas stays invariable), Portuguese is more analytic and inflects the internal parts: guarda-chuvas, couves-flores. So Spanish speakers tend to slip by leaving guarda-chuva without the -s or pluralizing the wrong part.
FAQ
Plural dos substantivos compostos — what does it mean and how is it used?
plurals of compound (hyphenated) nouns. The rule depends on how the compound is built. If it joins two nouns, or a noun and an adjective, both parts go to the plural (couve-flor > couves-flores, segunda-feira > segundas-feiras). If the first part is a verb or an invariable word, it stays fixed and only the noun changes (guarda-chuva > guarda-chuvas, because guarda comes from the verb guardar). When the elements are joined by a preposition, only the first one varies (pé-de-moleque > pés-de-moleque). The trick is always to ask: is the first word a verb or a noun? Compare guarda-chuva (verb, fixed) with guarda-noturno (noun, guardas-noturnos).
Plural dos substantivos compostos — how do you form it?
[subst+subst / subst+adj] os dois → plural (couves-flores) · [verbo/invariavel + subst] só o subst → plural (guarda-chuvas) · [elementos ligados por preposicao] só o primeiro (pes-de-moleque)
Plural dos substantivos compostos — any usage notes?
Unlike Spanish, which almost always pluralizes the compound only at the end (los guardarropas, and los paraguas stays invariable), Portuguese is more analytic and inflects the internal parts: guarda-chuvas, couves-flores. So Spanish speakers tend to slip by leaving guarda-chuva without the -s or pluralizing the wrong part.