Portuguese Connector Words: 60+ Connectors for Natural Brazilian Portuguese
Portuguese Connector Words: 60+ Connectors for Natural Brazilian Portuguese
Connector words help you move beyond isolated sentences and express addition, contrast, cause, result, condition, purpose, time, concession, and clarification. This guide focuses on how Brazilians actually connect ideas in conversation and writing—and on the grammar that changes after connectors such as se, embora, caso, and para que.
What Are Connector Words in Portuguese?
“Connector words” is a useful learner label, but Portuguese grammar does not put every item in this article into one single category. Some are conjunctions, some are adverbial expressions, and some can also work as discourse markers. What they share is a communicative function: they tell the listener or reader how one idea relates to another.
Compare:
The second version does not simply sound “more advanced.” It gives the listener a map: mas introduces contrast, while por isso presents a consequence.
Portuguese Connectors at a Glance
| Function | High-frequency connectors | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | e, também, além disso, além de, inclusive | Ela trabalha e estuda. |
| Contrast | mas, só que, porém, no entanto, entretanto | Queria ir, mas estava cansado. |
| Cause / reason | porque, já que, como, uma vez que, por causa de | Fiquei em casa porque estava chovendo. |
| Result / consequence | então, por isso, portanto, assim, daí | Estava chovendo, então fiquei em casa. |
| Condition | se, caso, contanto que, desde que, a menos que | Se eu tiver tempo, eu vou. |
| Concession | embora, mesmo que, apesar de, ainda que | Embora esteja cansado, vou sair. |
| Purpose | para, para que, a fim de | Estudo para aprender. |
| Time / sequence | quando, enquanto, antes de, depois de, assim que, até que | Te ligo quando chegar. |
| Example | por exemplo, como | Gosto de frutas, por exemplo, manga. |
| Reformulation | ou seja, quer dizer | Ele não vem, ou seja, vamos sem ele. |
1. Addition: e, também, além disso, além de, inclusive
The first connector most learners master is e, and there is nothing wrong with using it frequently. The problem appears when every relationship becomes simple addition.
She works and studies.
She works. She also goes to college at night.
The course is practical. In addition, it has a lot of conversation practice.
Besides working, he studies.
Além disso connects a new statement to what came before. Além de is followed by a noun, pronoun, or infinitive structure: além de estudar, além do trabalho.
Inclusive can add an item with an “including / in fact / even” flavor depending on context. Do not translate it mechanically as English inclusive.
2. Contrast: mas, só que, porém, no entanto, entretanto
Mas is the default high-frequency contrast connector:
I wanted to go, but I was tired.
Só que is especially useful in conversation when the second idea introduces a complication or problem:
I was going to go out, but then it started raining.
Porém, no entanto, and entretanto are useful alternatives, particularly in more planned speech and writing. But avoid the simplistic rule “mas is informal, porém is formal.” Mas appears naturally across many registers; the alternatives differ in distribution, rhythm, and textual style rather than forming a strict casual/formal switch.
3. Cause and Reason: porque, já que, como, uma vez que, por causa de
Porque is the most useful general connector for giving a reason:
I didn’t go because I was sick.
In real conversation, causal relationships are richer than a simple “event A caused event B.” Research on spoken Portuguese shows that porque can explain content, justify an inference, or even explain why the speaker is making a request or asking a question.
Já que often presents a reason as known, accepted, or available as a basis for what follows:
Since you’re here, can you help me with this?
Como can introduce a cause when the causal clause comes first:
Since it was raining, we stayed home.
Por causa de normally introduces a noun phrase rather than a full finite clause:
I didn’t go because it was raining.
I didn’t go because of the rain.
4. Result and Consequence: então, por isso, portanto, assim, daí
Cause and consequence describe the same logical chain from opposite directions:
I stayed home because it was raining.
It was raining, so I stayed home.
Então is extremely versatile in Brazilian Portuguese. It can mark result, sequence, a conversational transition, or the beginning of a response. Por isso explicitly points back to a cause: “because of that / therefore.”
I missed the bus. That’s why I arrived late.
Portanto is useful in conclusions and more planned discourse, but it is not simply a “better” version of então. In an everyday story, então, aí, and sometimes daí may be much more natural.
Research on spoken Brazilian Portuguese has specifically examined e, aí, daí, and então as coordinating/sequencing resources. That helps explain why a learner who only studies textbook conjunction lists can still struggle to follow a Brazilian telling a story.
For their broader conversational functions, see our Brazilian Portuguese filler words guide.
5. Conditions: se, caso, contanto que, desde que, a menos que
Condition connectors are important because the connector and the time reference often affect the verb form.
Se + a real future possibility
If I have time, I’ll go.
Portuguese frequently uses the future subjunctive after se for a future condition. This is a major difference from English.
Se + hypothetical situation
If I had more time, I would study more.
Here the imperfect subjunctive presents a hypothetical condition.
Caso
If you need help, let me know.
Caso is useful but usually sounds more planned than everyday conversational se. Learners should recognize it early without trying to replace every se.
Desde que and contanto que
You can go, as long as you come back early.
That’s fine, as long as nobody is late.
Studies of Portuguese conditionality analyze forms such as se, desde que, and contanto que as part of a wider conceptual domain rather than as interchangeable vocabulary items.
6. Concession: embora, mesmo que, apesar de, ainda que
Concession means that one fact would normally create an expectation, but the other fact goes against it.
Although I’m tired, I’m going out.
Even if it rains, we’re going.
Despite being tired, I’m going out.
For learners, the safest monitored pattern is:
| Connector | Typical pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| embora | subjunctive | Embora esteja cansado… |
| mesmo que | subjunctive | Mesmo que seja difícil… |
| ainda que | subjunctive | Ainda que pareça estranho… |
| apesar de | noun or infinitive | Apesar da chuva… / Apesar de chover… |
7. Purpose: para, para que, a fim de
Purpose connectors answer “for what purpose?”
Same subject: para + infinitive
I study Portuguese to speak with my family.
Different subject or explicit clause: para que + subjunctive
I’ll speak slowly so that you understand.
A fim de is useful in more planned or written language:
I left early in order to avoid traffic.
Do not force a fim de into casual conversation just because it looks more advanced. Para and para que do most of the work learners need.
8. Time and Sequence: quando, enquanto, antes de, depois de, assim que, até que
Temporal connectors are essential for storytelling and planning.
When I arrive, I’ll call you.
Notice the future subjunctive chegar after quando when the arrival is still in the future.
While I was cooking, he was setting the table.
After finishing work, I went home.
As soon as I know, I’ll let you know.
For past storytelling, connector choice interacts with tense and aspect. Our Brazilian Portuguese past tense guide explains how perfect and imperfect perspectives work inside a story.
9. Examples and Clarification: por exemplo, ou seja, quer dizer
Not every connector expresses a logical relation like cause or contrast. Some help the speaker manage explanation.
I want to visit more Brazilian cities, for example, Salvador and Recife.
He can’t come, so/in other words, we’ll have to start without him.
Ou seja reformulates or makes the consequence of an idea explicit. Quer dizer can also reformulate:
I mean… that’s not exactly what happened.
In conversation, quer dizer can also work as a repair marker. That is one reason rigid vocabulary lists fail: the same form can connect ideas and manage interaction.
10. Spoken Connectors vs. Written Connectors
Brazilian Portuguese does not have one connector list for speech and a completely separate list for writing. Many forms cross registers. The difference is in frequency, density, and style.
| Often central in ordinary conversation | Common in both speech and writing | Especially useful in planned/formal writing |
|---|---|---|
| e, mas, porque, então, aí, só que, se, quando | também, por isso, apesar de, além disso, por exemplo, ou seja | portanto, entretanto, no entanto, uma vez que, a fim de, ainda que |
This table is a learner-oriented tendency, not a ban. A Brazilian can say portanto aloud and write mas in a formal text. Register is probabilistic and contextual.
For a broader discussion of register, see our formal vs. informal Brazilian Portuguese guide.
Connector Words That Commonly Trigger the Subjunctive
This is where connector vocabulary becomes grammar. The following patterns are especially useful for learners:
| Connector | Relationship | Typical learner pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| para que | purpose | present/imperfect subjunctive | Falo devagar para que você entenda. |
| embora | concession | subjunctive | Embora seja caro, eu gostei. |
| mesmo que | concession/hypothesis | subjunctive | Mesmo que chova, eu vou. |
| caso | condition | subjunctive | Caso precise, me avise. |
| contanto que | condition | subjunctive | Pode ir, contanto que volte cedo. |
| a menos que | exception condition | subjunctive | Vou, a menos que chova. |
| antes que | time | subjunctive | Vamos sair antes que fique tarde. |
| se | future condition | future subjunctive | Se eu tiver tempo, eu vou. |
| quando | future time | future subjunctive | Quando eu chegar, te ligo. |
Do not try to memorize this as “connector = subjunctive” without meaning. Mood choice is connected to how the speaker presents the event: purpose, hypothesis, concession, future contingency, and other semantic relationships.
Six Common Connector Mistakes English Speakers Make
1. Using porque where you need por causa de
Porque normally introduces a clause. Por causa de introduces a noun phrase: porque estava chovendo vs. por causa da chuva.
2. Saying se eu terei tempo
For a future condition, Portuguese typically uses the future subjunctive: Se eu tiver tempo, eu vou.
3. Treating porém as a “better mas”
More varied vocabulary is not automatically more natural. Mas remains the normal choice in huge numbers of contexts.
4. Using embora without learning its grammar
The safe learner pattern is embora + subjunctive: embora seja, embora esteja, embora tenha.
5. Overusing e and mas
The solution is not to replace them everywhere. Learn one connector for each relationship you actually need: cause, result, condition, concession, sequence.
6. Translating every English connector literally
English so, since, as, while, actually, and then can map to different Portuguese forms depending on their function.
Three Realistic Dialogues With Connectors
A: Você vai sair hoje?
B: Acho que não, porque tô cansado.
A: Mas você não queria ver o pessoal?
B: Queria, só que amanhã eu acordo cedo. Então acho melhor ficar em casa.
A: Você vai viajar no fim de semana?
B: Se eu conseguir terminar o trabalho, vou.
A: E se não conseguir?
B: Aí eu fico aqui. Mas, assim que terminar, quero descansar uns dias.
A: Por que você está estudando tanto?
B: Porque quero melhorar meu português para falar com a família do meu namorado.
A: Você já entende bastante.
B: Entendo, mas ainda travo quando todo mundo fala junto. Por isso, tô praticando mais conversação.
Practice: Choose the Relationship Before the Word
porque → Fiquei em casa porque estava doente.
então / por isso → Eu estava doente, então fiquei em casa.
Se + future subjunctive → Se eu tiver tempo, te ligo.
Embora + subjunctive → Embora seja caro, eu quero.
para + infinitive → Estudo para aprender.
para que + subjunctive → Estou explicando para que você entenda.
ou seja can work when the second statement reformulates the practical consequence.
mas or conversational só que → Eu queria ir, só que tive que trabalhar.
How to Learn Connectors Without Memorizing 60 Translations
- Master one connector per function first. Start with e, mas, porque, então, se, quando, para, por exemplo.
- Add a spoken alternative. Learn só que, aí, por isso, and quer dizer in context.
- Add a planned-writing alternative. Introduce no entanto, portanto, além disso, and a fim de.
- Learn grammar with meaning. Practice se eu tiver, quando eu chegar, embora seja, and para que você entenda as complete patterns.
- Retell stories. Connector use becomes automatic when you repeatedly explain causes, consequences, sequences, and contrasts aloud.
If your goal is to make these structures available in real-time conversation, our guide to sounding more natural in Brazilian Portuguese shows how chunks, repair language, interaction, and spoken grammar work together.
The goal is not “more connectors.” It is clearer relationships.
A fluent speaker does not choose the longest connector available. They make the relationship between ideas easy to follow. Build a small core you can retrieve automatically, then expand it according to the conversations and writing you actually do. Our Brazilian Portuguese learning roadmap explains how to turn focused grammar study into usable communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are connector words in Portuguese?
They are words and expressions that show how ideas relate to one another, including addition, contrast, cause, result, condition, purpose, time, concession, example, and reformulation.
What are the most important Portuguese connectors for beginners?
Start with e, mas, porque, então, por isso, se, quando, para, and por exemplo. They cover many of the relationships you need in everyday conversation.
What is the difference between porque and por causa de?
Porque normally introduces a clause: porque estava chovendo. Por causa de normally introduces a noun phrase: por causa da chuva.
What is the difference between mas and porém?
Both can express contrast, but they are not simply informal versus formal versions of the same word. Mas is extremely common across registers, while porém is especially frequent in more planned or written discourse.
When do I use the subjunctive after a connector?
Common learner patterns include para que, embora, mesmo que, caso, contanto que, a menos que, and antes que. Future conditions with se and future time with quando often use the future subjunctive.
Why do Brazilians use aí and então so much?
In speech, these forms can do more than express a logical result. They can organize narrative sequence, move the conversation forward, and connect discourse. Their exact function depends on context.
Is portanto too formal for conversation?
No, but it is more characteristic of planned conclusions than everyday storytelling. In many casual situations, então or por isso will be more natural.
Does embora always require the subjunctive?
For learners, embora + subjunctive is the safest production pattern. Research on spontaneous Brazilian speech documents some variation, but that variation is not a reason to abandon the standard learner pattern.
Can I use European Portuguese connectors in Brazil?
Many connectors are shared across Portuguese varieties, but frequency, discourse preferences, and register can differ. This guide prioritizes patterns useful in contemporary Brazilian Portuguese.
How do I stop overusing e and mas?
Do not replace them randomly. Practice one specific relationship at a time: cause with porque, result with então/por isso, condition with se, concession with embora/apesar de, and purpose with para/para que.
Research and Editorial Basis
This reconstruction replaces the older version of the article, which presented connectors mostly as a synonym list and made overly simple claims such as treating mas as informal and porém as its formal equivalent. The new version separates connector functions, spoken discourse, register, and mood selection.
- Tavares & Freitag — Revista Linguíʃtica/UFRJ: corpus-based study of coordinating connectors e, aí, daí, and então in Brazilian Portuguese speech.
- Study of causality in spoken Portuguese: analysis of porque and causal relations in conversational turns, showing that causal connection can operate at content, epistemic, and speech-act levels.
- Oliveira — DELTA, “A condicionalidade como zona conceitual”: analysis of conditionality and connector patterns including se, desde que, and contanto que.
- Ferrari — ALFA: study of subjectivity and intersubjectivity in Brazilian Portuguese conditional constructions and alternation involving future-subjunctive patterns.
- ALFA — independent concessive clauses in Brazilian Portuguese: corpus analysis of concessive constructions and variation involving embora, mesmo que, and apesar de.
- porque
- mas
- então
- se
- embora
Connect Ideas Without Stopping to Translate
Knowing a connector on a worksheet is different from retrieving it while someone is waiting for your answer. The goal is to make cause, contrast, sequence, condition, and explanation available while the conversation is still moving.
If you want to turn structures like these into spontaneous speech, our live Brazilian Portuguese course combines grammar with guided conversation, listening, and repeated small-group practice with Brazilian teachers and facilitators.
Practice the same relationships you studied here inside live interaction, where you have to retrieve Portuguese in real time.
