Acima vs. A Cima: How to Write ‘Above’ in Portuguese — Practice

Use acima for a higher position or amount

Acima is one word when it means ‘above,’ ‘higher up,’ or ‘over.’ It can refer to a physical position, a number that exceeds a reference point, or information earlier in a document. It is usually followed by de before a noun or number: acima da porta, acima de cem.

This is the form you need in most everyday sentences about height, rank, temperature, price, or a section already mentioned.

Recognize a cima in a direction from bottom to top

A cima is a preposition plus the noun cima. It appears especially in the expression de baixo a cima (from bottom to top), where the paired prepositions de and a describe the direction across a vertical space. This construction is much less common than the one-word adverb acima.

Do not write a cima when you simply mean ‘above.’ If you are unsure, try the sentence with acima de: if that fits, use the single word.

Remember: Write acima as one word for the ordinary meaning ‘above.’ Keep a cima as two words in the directional phrase de baixo a cima.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. The painting is above the sofa.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O quadro está acima do sofá.

2. The temperature went above thirty degrees.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A temperatura passou de trinta graus.

3. As I explained above, registration is free.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Como expliquei acima, a inscrição é gratuita.

4. The team reviewed the report from bottom to top.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A equipe revisou o relatório de baixo a cima.

5. The child looked at the building from bottom to top.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A criança olhou o prédio de baixo a cima.

6. The text cited above is in the first paragraph.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O texto citado acima está no primeiro parágrafo.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Write acima as one word for the ordinary meaning ‘above.’ Keep a cima as two words in the directional phrase de baixo a cima.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Acima vs. A Cima: How to Write ‘Above’ in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.