num/numa/nuns/numas

Contraction Num

Level 2

Num = em (in/on/at) + um (a/an). It is used to describe being in or on a non-specific place or thing.

How It Works

The contraction num functions like 'in a', 'on a', or 'at a' in English. It is essential to become proficient in these forms for natural-sounding Portuguese.

1. Formation:

  • em + um = num (masculine singular)
  • em + uma = numa (feminine singular)
  • em + uns = nuns (masculine plural)
  • em + umas = numas (feminine plural)

Note that a similar logic applies to the preposition de, resulting in dum/duma.

2. Usage and Nuance:
This contraction applies to both the indefinite article ('a/an') and the numeral 'one'.

  • Moro num apartamento = I live in an apartment (indefinite).
  • Só há um lugar num carro = There is only one seat in one car (numeral).

Informal Note: In informal Brazilian speech, you may hear num used as a shortened form of não (e.g., Eu num sei). This is a separate colloquialism and not a contraction of em.

3. Regional and Formal Differences:

  • European Portuguese: These contractions are the standard in almost all contexts. While em um sounds archaic, it is occasionally kept separate in specific syntactic structures to maintain clarity between units (such as when the article starts the subject of an infinitive).
  • Brazilian Portuguese: Num is universal in speech. In formal writing, some authors prefer em um as a stylistic choice, but num is perfectly correct and often preferred for better flow (euphony) according to major grammarians.

4. Orthography Note:
Modern Portuguese does not use apostrophes for these contractions (e.g., n'um). This practice is obsolete; always write them as a single word.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu moro num apartamento pequeno.

    I live in a small apartment.

    Word by Word: I live in-a apartment small.

    'Num' is used here because 'apartamento' is masculine and we are talking about 'an' apartment, not a specific one.

  2. Ela deixou o livro numa mesa.

    She left the book on a table.

    Word by Word: She left the book on-a table.

    'Numa' is the feminine form, agreeing with 'mesa'. It indicates the book is on 'a' table (any table).

  3. Nós nos vimos num dia de sol.

    We saw each other on a sunny day.

    Word by Word: We ourselves saw in-a day of sun.

    'Num' is used for time expressions involving 'a day' or 'a moment'.

  4. Eles trabalham nuns escritórios novos.

    They work in some new offices.

    Word by Word: They work in-some offices new.

    'Nuns' is the plural masculine form, meaning 'in some'.

  5. Vi essa notícia numas revistas velhas.

    I saw this news in some old magazines.

    Word by Word: I-saw this news in-some magazines old.

    'Numas' is the plural feminine form, agreeing with 'revistas'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine 'num' with feminine nouns.

    Eu estudo num escola.
    Eu estudo numa escola.

    The contraction must agree in gender with the noun. Since 'escola' is feminine, you must use 'numa'.

  • Confusing 'num' (in a) with 'no' (in the).

    Moro num apartamento 402.
    Moro no apartamento 402.

    Use no/na for specific things (the apartment) and num/numa for non-specific things (an apartment).

  • Using an apostrophe in the contraction.

    Ele está n'um carro.
    Ele está num carro.

    Following the 1990 Orthographic Accord, the apostrophe is obsolete in modern Portuguese. The forms 'num' and 'numa' are written as single words without punctuation.

Words in This Pattern

numnumanunsnumas