Em Primeiro Lugar, Em Seguida, Por Fim: Order Ideas in Portuguese — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Introduce the first point
Em primeiro lugar means first or in the first place. Use it to announce the first step in a procedure or the first consideration in an explanation.
If you are giving instructions, make each step a clear action. The connector indicates order; it does not explain how to do the action.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Em primeiro lugar, confira o endereço no comprovante. | First, check the address on the receipt. |
| Em primeiro lugar, precisamos entender o objetivo do projeto. | First, we need to understand the project's goal. |
Move to the next step with em seguida or depois
Em seguida means next or immediately afterward and often sounds organized in instructions. Depois is the everyday word for afterward or later and can be less formal.
Choose em seguida when one step follows closely. Choose depois when the timing is broader or you are simply describing what happens later.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Em seguida, envie o formulário pelo portal. | Next, send the form through the portal. |
| Depois, espere a confirmação por e-mail. | Afterward, wait for confirmation by email. |
Close a sequence with por fim
Por fim means finally or lastly and introduces the final step or concluding point. It is a useful marker in a presentation or set of directions.
Do not confuse por fim with no fim, which can mean at the end of a period or process: no fim do mês (at the end of the month).
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Por fim, salve uma cópia do documento. | Finally, save a copy of the document. |
| Por fim, vou apresentar os próximos passos. | Lastly, I'll present the next steps. |
Remember: Use em primeiro lugar to start, em seguida or depois to continue, and por fim to mark the last step.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
First, check the address on the receipt.
Show a Portuguese answer
Em primeiro lugar, confira o endereço no comprovante.
First, we need to understand the project's goal.
Show a Portuguese answer
Em primeiro lugar, precisamos entender o objetivo do projeto.
Next, send the form through the portal.
Show a Portuguese answer
Em seguida, envie o formulário pelo portal.
Afterward, wait for confirmation by email.
Show a Portuguese answer
Depois, espere a confirmação por e-mail.
Finally, save a copy of the document.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por fim, salve uma cópia do documento.
Lastly, I'll present the next steps.
Show a Portuguese answer
Por fim, vou apresentar os próximos passos.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Use em primeiro lugar to start, em seguida or depois to continue, and por fim to mark the last step.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Em Primeiro Lugar, Em Seguida, Por Fim: Order Ideas in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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