The Word Mesmo in Portuguese – Usage and Meanings

Many people have questions about the usage of the word mesmo in Portuguese, as it can have many different meanings in different contexts. Let’s take a look at some examples and learn how to differentiate the various concepts of the word mesmo in Portuguese.

Meanings of the word mesmo in Portuguese (variable)

The word mesmo, depending on the context, may vary in gender and number: Mesmo/Mesma/Mesmos/Mesmas.

• Meaning ‘indeed’

Example:
– Será que aquele homem ali é aquele cantor famoso? (Do you think that man right there is that famous singer?)
– É ele mesmo. (It is him indeed.)

• Emphasizes a personal pronoun, it is a significant reinforcement

Example: Eu mesma fiz o bolo. (I baked the cake myself.)

• Meaning ‘the same’ or ‘similar’

Examples:
A estampa dos nossos vestidos tem as mesmas cores. (The prints of our dresses have the same colors.)
Ela pensa da mesma forma que a mãe. (She thinks just like her mom.)

Meanings of the word mesmo in Portuguese (invariable)

For some other uses, the word ‘mesmo’ does not vary in gender and number.

• Used to emphasize

Examples:
Amanhã mesmo te envio os relatórios. (Tomorrow I will send you the report.)
Eu gosto mesmo é de ficar em casa. (What I really like is to stay home.)

• Used as a connective expressing concession

Examples:
Mesmo gripado, fui pra* escola. = Apesar de estar gripado, fui pra escola. (Even though I was sick, I went to school.)
Mesmo que não faça muito sol, vamos pra praia. = Vamos pra praia com muito ou pouco sol. (Even if it’s cloudy, we will go to the beach.)

Read more: If you want to study para/por/pra, access “Differences between Por and Para in Portuguese”.

• Used as significant reinforcement; emphasis for confirmation

Example: Estamos contando quantas pessoas vão viajar com a gente. Você vai mesmo? (We are confirming the people that are going to travel with us. Are you really coming?)

Expressions that use the word mesmo in Portuguese

• Dar no mesmo

It means that one way or another, the result will be the same.

Example: Com ou sem o seu apoio, vai dar no mesmo. Vamos ganhar a eleição! (With or without your support, it’s all going to be the same. We will win the election.)

• É mesmo? or Mesmo?

Means “is it true?” or “is it serious?”

Example:
– Estou grávida! (I am pregnant.)
– É mesmo? (Are you serious?)

•  Isso mesmo!

It means something is right.

Example:
– O preço do ônibus no Rio de Janeiro é R$4,05? (Is the price of the bus ticket in Rio de Janeiro R$4.05?)
– Isso mesmo! (Yes, it is.)

•  Agora mesmo

Means ‘right now’, ‘right away’.

Example: Vou trazer a sua comida agora mesmo. (I am going to bring your food right away.)

• Assim mesmo

Means ‘like this’, ‘this way’.

Example:
– Nossa, o Eduardo foi embora e não se despediu de ninguém. (Wow, Eduardo went home and didn’t even said goodbye.)
– Ele é assim mesmo. (He is like that.)

• Mesmo assim

It means ‘despite that’, ‘anyway.’

Examples:
Ela é um pouco chata, mas mesmo assim eu gosto dela. (She is a bit annoying, but I like her anyway.)
Eu não queria comer doce, mas pedi sobremesa assim mesmo. (I didn’t want to eat sugar, but I ordered dessert anyway.)

Homework

Complete:

a) Ela tem a ______ boca e o mesmo nariz da mãe. (She has the same month and nose as her mother.)
b) Não temos as ______ opiniões. (We don’t have the same opinions.)
c) Está chovendo! Você quer ir pra praia ______? (It is raining. Do you really want to go to the beach?)
d) Ele é tímido, mas ______ assim fez a apresentação. (He is shy, but he did the presentation anyway.)
e) Eles gostam ______ de você. (They really like you.)
f) Breno ______ fez a comida. (Breno made the food himself.)
g) Sua calça e sua camisa são da ______ cor. (Your pants and shirt are the same color.)
h) Nossa! É o Brad Pitt! É ele ______!!! (Wow! That’s Brad Pitt! It is him indeed.)

Answers:

a) mesma, b) mesmas, c) mesmo, d) mesmo, e) mesmo, f) mesmo, g) mesma, h) mesmo

Check other Portuguese lessons online at Caminhos Blog here.

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