Examples of Words that Require a Hyphen

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 1 views

The Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement, also known as the Acordo Ortográfico da Língua Portuguesa, is a set of rules that govern the spelling and grammar of the Portuguese language. In 1990, Portugal and Brazil signed an agreement to standardize the language, which was later adopted by several other countries that speak Portuguese. One of the key aspects of this agreement is the use of hyphens, which can be a bit tricky to understand.

The Rules of Hyphenation

According to the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement, a hyphen is used to join two or more words that form a compound word. However, not all compound words require a hyphen. In this article, we will explore the rules of hyphenation in Portuguese and provide examples to help you understand which words are in accordance with the rules.

When to Use a Hyphen

A hyphen is used to join two or more words that form a compound word when:

The words are not separated by a space
The words are not written as separate words
The words are not preceded by a preposition or a conjunction

For example:

um homem de negócios (a businessman) - In this example, the words "homem" and "de negócios" are joined by a hyphen to form a compound word.
um carro de corrida (a racing car) - In this example, the words "carro" and "de corrida" are joined by a hyphen to form a compound word.

When Not to Use a Hyphen

A hyphen is not used to join two or more words that form a compound word when:

The words are separated by a space
The words are written as separate words
The words are preceded by a preposition or a conjunction

For example:

um homem que é de negócios (a man who is a businessman) - In this example, the words "homem" and "de negócios" are not joined by a hyphen because they are separated by a space.
um carro que é de corrida (a car that is a racing car) - In this example, the words "carro" and "de corrida" are not joined by a hyphen because they are separated by a space.

Examples of Words that Require a Hyphen

Here are some examples of words that require a hyphen according to the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement:

um homem de negócios (a businessman)
um carro de corrida (a racing car)
um livro de culinária (a cookbook)
um filme de ação (an action movie)
um jogo de computador (a computer game)

Examples of Words that Do Not Require a Hyphen

Here are some examples of words that do not require a hyphen according to the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement:

um homem que é de negócios (a man who is a businessman)
um carro que é de corrida (a car that is a racing car)
um livro que é de culinária (a book that is a cookbook)
um filme que é de ação (a movie that is an action movie)
um jogo que é de computador (a game that is a computer game)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement provides clear rules for the use of hyphens in compound words. By understanding these rules, you can ensure that you are using hyphens correctly in your writing. Remember that a hyphen is used to join two or more words that form a compound word when they are not separated by a space, are not written as separate words, and are not preceded by a preposition or a conjunction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the purpose of the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement?

A: The purpose of the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement is to standardize the spelling and grammar of the Portuguese language.

Q: What are the rules for the use of hyphens in compound words?

A: A hyphen is used to join two or more words that form a compound word when they are not separated by a space, are not written as separate words, and are not preceded by a preposition or a conjunction.

Q: What are some examples of words that require a hyphen?

A: Some examples of words that require a hyphen include um homem de negócios (a businessman), um carro de corrida (a racing car), and um livro de culinária (a cookbook).

Q: What are some examples of words that do not require a hyphen?

A: Some examples of words that do not require a hyphen include um homem que é de negócios (a man who is a businessman), um carro que é de corrida (a car that is a racing car), and um livro que é de culinária (a book that is a cookbook).

Q: Why is it important to understand the rules for the use of hyphens in compound words?

The new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement has been implemented in several countries that speak Portuguese, and it has brought about many changes in the way we write and spell words. However, there are still many questions and doubts about the agreement and its rules. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement.

Q: What is the purpose of the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement?

A: The purpose of the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement is to standardize the spelling and grammar of the Portuguese language. The agreement aims to simplify the language and make it easier to understand and use.

Q: What are the main changes brought about by the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement?

A: The new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement has brought about several changes, including the simplification of the spelling of many words, the elimination of the use of accents in certain words, and the introduction of new rules for the use of hyphens and apostrophes.

Q: What are the rules for the use of hyphens in compound words?

Q: What are some examples of words that require a hyphen?

A: Some examples of words that require a hyphen include um homem de negócios (a businessman), um carro de corrida (a racing car), and um livro de culinária (a cookbook).

Q: What are some examples of words that do not require a hyphen?

Q: Why is it important to understand the rules for the use of hyphens in compound words?

A: Understanding the rules for the use of hyphens in compound words is important because it helps to ensure that you are using hyphens correctly in your writing, which can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

Q: What are the rules for the use of apostrophes in possessive nouns?

A: The rules for the use of apostrophes in possessive nouns are as follows:

To form a possessive noun, an apostrophe is placed after the noun.
If the noun ends in "s", an apostrophe is placed after the "s".
If the noun does not end in "s", an apostrophe is placed after the noun.

Q: What are some examples of possessive nouns?

A: Some examples of possessive nouns include o livro de João (João's book), o carro de Maria (Maria's car), and o livro dos irmãos (the brothers' book).

Q: Why is it important to understand the rules for the use of apostrophes in possessive nouns?

A: Understanding the rules for the use of apostrophes in possessive nouns is important because it helps to ensure that you are using apostrophes correctly in your writing, which can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

Q: What are the rules for the use of accents in Portuguese words?

A: The rules for the use of accents in Portuguese words are as follows:

Accents are used to indicate the pronunciation of a word.
Accents are not used in words that are pronounced without them.
Accents are used in words that are pronounced with them.

Q: What are some examples of words that require accents?

A: Some examples of words that require accents include casa (house), câmera (camera), and cão (dog).

Q: Why is it important to understand the rules for the use of accents in Portuguese words?

A: Understanding the rules for the use of accents in Portuguese words is important because it helps to ensure that you are using accents correctly in your writing, which can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

Q: What are the rules for the use of capital letters in Portuguese words?

A: The rules for the use of capital letters in Portuguese words are as follows:

Capital letters are used to indicate the beginning of a sentence.
Capital letters are used to indicate the beginning of a proper noun.
Capital letters are used to indicate the beginning of a title.

Q: What are some examples of words that require capital letters?

A: Some examples of words that require capital letters include Eu sou brasileiro (I am Brazilian), O Brasil é um país grande (Brazil is a big country), and A Língua Portuguesa é uma língua importante (The Portuguese language is an important language).

Q: Why is it important to understand the rules for the use of capital letters in Portuguese words?

A: Understanding the rules for the use of capital letters in Portuguese words is important because it helps to ensure that you are using capital letters correctly in your writing, which can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement has brought about many changes in the way we write and spell words. Understanding the rules for the use of hyphens, apostrophes, accents, and capital letters is important because it helps to ensure that you are using these punctuation marks correctly in your writing. By following these rules, you can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing and communicate more effectively with others.