à toa

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /a ˈto.ɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /a ˈto.ɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /a ˈto.a/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /a ˈto.ɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /a ˈto.ɐ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /a ˈto(w).ɐ/

Adverb

à toa (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) aimlessly, out of the blue

   Não é à toa que,…

   It is not a coincidence that…

   Ela não vai desistir à toa.

   She won't give up easily.

Adjectival Phrase

à toa (invariable)

1. (of a person) idle (not doing anything important)
2. despicable, without importance

   Por um errinho à toa, levou uma bronca daquelas.

   For an unimportant little mistake, they got scolded like that.

Related terms

• toa