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kimhs0l
23 set 2022

  • Coreano
  • Inglês (EUA)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Espanhol (México)
Pergunta sobre Português (Brasil)

If "qual" means "which" and "o que" means "what", why do you say "Qual é o seu nome" instead of "O que é o seu nome"?

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LeandroAgera
23 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil) Quase Fluente

"que/o que" just specifies something

"qual/o qual" just specifies one or more people or things from a definite set

Highly-rated answerer
robsonassis
23 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil)

“What” também pode ser traduzido como “qual”, depende da frase. “What ir your name?” = “Qual é o seu nome?”

robson_chan
23 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil)

Each language have their own particularities. Translate word to word is not aways correct.
Another example is when some person want to say it's age. In portuguese we say "tenho __ anos" which translate word to word means "I have ___ years", and you probably know this is not correct in English.

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LeandroAgera
23 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil) Quase Fluente

tu não pode traduzir a palavra mas pode explicar o significado bruh

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marcellebrito
23 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil)

It's a bit weird. "O que é o seu nome?" sounds like someone is asking the meaning of the name or something like that.

"Qual" also has other grammatical function, but in this case, it is an interrogative pronoun that convey the idea of selection, identification of one or several elements within a group (things or people).

Let me put this way:
Qual é o seu nome? -> Among the several existing names, which one is yours?
Which one (of the existing names) is yours?

kimhs0l
23 set 2022

  • Coreano
@marcellebrito it was a nice explanation, very clarifying! I have another question!

Why do you say “O que você quer fazer?” instead of “Qual você quer fazer?”. If we follow the same line of thinking:

What do you want to do? -> Among the several things we can do, which ones do you enjoy doing?

So why wouldn't “qual” be a fit here?
LeandroAgera
23 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil) Quase Fluente

"o que" specifies the type of action but does not suggest determinedly what..
It's not common to say "which one do you want to do?"

Highly-rated answerer
marcellebrito
24 set 2022

  • Português (Brasil)

@kimhs0l In this situation, you can use both actually, let me explain:

-Qual você quer fazer?

It's possible to use "qual" here, but sounds like you're showing someone a folder with several activities, for example, and asking that person to choose one among them. (If you wanna ask her/him to choose more than one, you should ask "quais você quer fazer?"). So you give options and ask the other one you're talking to make a choice.

On the other hand, if you don't wanna give the options and just let the person answer whatever he/she has in mind, it's ok to use this one but you need to be more specific ("Qual" what? Activity? Plan? A cake maybe?😂):

·Qual atividade você quer fazer? -> Among the activities we can do, which one you'd like to do?

·Quais atividades você quer fazer? -> Among the activities we can do, which ones you'd like to do?

(It's not very common, but correct and understandable)

-O que você quer fazer? (The most used and more natural)

This one sounds more generic, more like "what is the thing you wanna do?", and that "thing" can be whatever you want. (Ah! It's totally fine use it in the first situation as well.)

I hope it makes sense to you. Your questions are very pertinent. Portuguese can be tricky but don't give up :')

kimhs0l
24 set 2022

  • Coreano
@marcellebrito it's really tricky to grasp indeed. That was a nice explanation, thank you so much ~
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If "qual" means "which" and "o que" means "what", why do you say "Qual é o seu nome" instead of "O que é o seu nome"?
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