então

Alternative forms

• entaõ (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old Portuguese enton, from Latin in (“in”) tunc (“then; in that moment”). Displaced collateral form entonce. Compare Spanish entonces.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ẽˈtɐ̃w̃/, /ĩˈtɐ̃w̃/

  • Audio (BR)

    (file)

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ẽˈtɐ̃w̃/

Adverb

então (not comparable)

1. then (at that time)

   Desde então sempre tive cuidado

   Since then I've always been careful.

2. then (soon afterwards; after that)

   Então, o ladrão fugiu.

   After that, the thief ran away.

Conjunction

então

1. thus; therefore (as a result)

   Esse computador é caro, então não posso comprá-lo.

   This computer is expensive, therefore I can’t buy it.

Interjection

então

1. so (used after a pause for thought to introduce a new topic, question or story)

   Então, o que aconteceu?

   So, what happened?

2. used to introduce an answer which is more complex than expected

   “As cadeiras são azuis ou verdes?” “Então, algumas são azuis, algumas verdes e algumas vermelhas.”

   “Are the chairs blue or green?” “So, some are blue, some green and some red.”

See also

• pois