What Does “Dado à” Mean?
The expression “dado à” means:
- Inclined to
- Prone to
- Given to
- Having a tendency toward
The term itself is invoked to mean a person’s customary behavior or nature, disposition, or inclination.
Basic meaning in English: A person who is “dado à” something has a tendency or inclination towards it.
Grammatical Structure of “Dado à”
The expression is formed by:
- dado → past participle as an adjective
- à → contraction of preposition a + feminine article a (crasis)
Structure: dado + a + nome feminino → dado à
Examples of ‘Dado à’ in a Sentence
Here are some proper and natural examples:
- Ele é dado à reflexão. → He is the reflective type.
- Ela sempre foi dada à arte desde criança. → She has had an inclination to art since childhood.
- O jovem é dado à aventura. → The boy is an adventurer.
- Ela sempre foi dada à imaginação. → She’s always had a tendency toward imagination.
In each of these cases, “dado à” is describing an inclination.
Why is it “Dado à” and not just “Dado a”?
The grave accent appears because:
- The preposition a is required here by dado
- The following noun is feminine and takes the article a
When a + a come together, they meet to become à (crasis).
Example: dado a + a reflexão → dado à reflexão
This is why “dado à” only occurs before feminine nouns.
Masculine: “Dado a” (Sem Acento)
When the noun is masculine, there is no article “a” and therefore there cannot be crasis.
Examples:
- Ele é dado a exageros. (masculine noun: exageros)
- O autor é dado a devaneios.
In these situations the proper word is dado a, without accent.
Feminine Agreement: “Dada à”
Since ‘dado’ is an adjective, it should agree with the noun in gender and number.
Feminine subject:
- Ela é dada à música.
- A criança é dada à curiosidade.
Plural forms:
- Eles são dados à discussão.
- Elas são dadas à fantasia.
Common Mistakes With “Dado à”
❌ Putting “à” before a masculine noun Incorrect: Ele é dado à estudo. ❌ Correct: Ele é dado a estudo. ✔
❌ Forgetting agreement Incorrect: Ela é dado à arte. ❌ Correct: Ela é dada à arte. ✔
“Dado a” versus “Devido a” (Diferença Importante)
A very common mistake is to exchange “dado à” with “devido a”.
- dado a → propensity or tendency
- devido a → cause or reason
Examples:
- Ele é dado à preguiça. (tendency)
- Seu atraso foi devido ao trânsito. (cause)
They are not interchangeable.
When Should You Use “Dado à”?
Use “dado à” when you want to indicate:
- Personality traits
- Behavioral tendencies
- Natural inclinations
- Repeated habits
It is commonly used in:
- Formal writing
- Literary texts
- Essays
- Academic and descriptive language
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the meaning of dado à in English?
It signifies with a tendency to, liable to, or prone to.
Does “dado à” always have an accent?
No. The accent is kept only before feminine nouns. “Dado a” is used with masculine nouns.
Is “dado à” formal Portuguese?
Yes. It is frequently found in formal, academic or literary contexts.
Is “dado” unique to gender?
Yes.
- dado (masculine singular)
- dada (feminine singular)
- dados (masculine plural)
- dadas (feminine plural)
Can “dado à” be used to refer to objects and not only people?
It is primarily used for people (but it can sometimes describe abstract concepts).
Final Thoughts
The expression “dado à” is a rich and lively one in Portuguese. Knowing what it means, its syntax, and how to properly use the grave accent makes it easier to write and speak more accurately.
When you remember that “dado à” means inclination and only takes the accent before feminine nouns, the rule becomes much easier.