Every Portuguese noun is masculine or feminine, and o marks the masculine while a marks the feminine - with os and as in the plural. Portuguese uses the definite article far more than English does: it goes before countries, before possessives and often before names.
Examples
- O pão está quente.
- The bread is warm.
- A água está fria.
- The water is cold.
- O leite está no frigorífico.
- The milk is in the fridge.
The mistake to avoid
Most -a words are feminine, but not all: o dia and o problema are masculine.
Where this fits in
Food & ordering, Portuguese A1: Order at a café or restaurant, ask for the bill, and talk about basic food and drink.