Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

Plural of compound nouns and adjectives

Plural de substantivos e adjetivos compostos

Compound nouns
Compound		Rule
1st element	2nd element
noun	adjective	Both elements go to the plural.
adjective	noun
o cachorro-quente => os cachorros-quentes *the hot dog => the hot dogs* o amor-perfeito => os amores-perfeitos *the pansy => the pansies* o cavalo-marinho =>os cavalos-marinhos *the sea horse => the sea horses* o curta-metragem => os curtas-metragens *the short feature film => the short feature films*
number	noun	Both elements go to the plural
o primeiro-ministro => os primeiros-ministros *the prime minister =>the prime ministers* a quarta-feira => as quartas-feiras *Wednesday =>Wednesdays* a primeira-dama => as primeiras-damas *the first lady => ther first ladies*
noun	noun	Both elements go to the plural
a couve-flor => as couves-flores *the cauliflower => the cauliflowers* o cirurgião-dentista => os cirurgiões-dentistas *the dental surgeon =>the dental surgeons* a asa-delta => as asas-deltas *the hang-glider => the hang-gliders*
verb	noun	The second element goes to the plural.
o guarda-chuva => os guarda-chuvas *the umbrella => the umbrellas* o porta-avião => os porta-aviões *the airplane carrier => the airplane carriers* o beija-flor => os beija-flores *the humming bird => the humming birds*