Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Cada separates a group into individuals. Todo presents the members together or something as complete.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
cada
each
Use cada for looking at members of a group one by one.
todo
every or the whole
Use todo for making a general statement about all members or one complete thing.
How to choose
- cada: Choose cada if the sentence points to looking at members of a group one by one.
- todo: Choose todo if the sentence points to making a general statement about all members or one complete thing.
Examples
Cada pessoa tem um ingresso.
Each person has a ticket.
Todo mundo chegou.
Everyone arrived.
Common trap
Cada does not change to a plural form. Todo changes to toda, todos, or todas when the noun requires it.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with cada, then once with todo. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.