quase

Portuguese

Alternative forms

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

  • (Minho) IPA(key): /kazɨ/
  • 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)