quase

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• quási (pre-reform spelling)
• quasi (pre-standardization spelling)
• quazi, quaze (obsolete)
• quaje (eye dialect)

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin quasi (“as if”). Cognate of Spanish casi, Spanish cuasi, French quasi and Italian quasi.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈkwa.zi/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈkwa.zi/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈkwa.ze/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈkwa.zɨ/

• (Minho) IPA^(key): /kazɨ/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -azi, -azɨ
• Hyphenation: qua‧se

Adverb

quase (not comparable)

1. almost (very close to)
   • 1930 January 2, “Os novos medicos evangelicos realizaram um culto de Acção de Graças [The new evangelical doctors performed a Thanksgiving ceremony]”, in Correio da Manhã, volume XXIX, number 10741, Rio de Janeiro, page 7:

     Com a presença de avultadissimo numero de membros de quasi todas as egrejas evangelicas desta capital e de Nictheroy, o programma do culto teve inicio pouco depois das 4 horas […]

     With the presence of a very large number of members from almost all the evangelical churches of this capital and Niterói, the worship program began shortly after 4 o’clock.

Noun

quase m (plural quases)

1. (informal) almost (a situation that almost happens)