através

Através is a preposition and adverb in Portuguese that denotes passage or mediation, meaning through, across, by means of, or via. It describes both physical movement through a space and the use of a channel or medium to convey information or objects, as in “através da janela” (through the window) or “através de redes sociais” (via social networks).

Usage notes and examples

When specifying the medium or channel, the expression usually takes the form “através de” followed by a noun or noun phrase: “através de um documento,” “através de uma entrevista.” It can also indicate a means of transmission or communication, such as “informação obtida através de fontes oficiais.” The term is common in formal and neutral writing and can be interchangeable with “por meio de” or “via” in many contexts, though each variant carries slightly different nuance.

Etymology and related terms

Através is cognate with the Spanish a través and the French à travers, reflecting shared Romance language roots. It ultimately derives from Latin developments that express movement or crossing from one side to another. In contemporary Portuguese, atravês is not used; the standard form is através, with the acute accent on the final syllable.

Grammar and usage tips

The usual construction is through de: “através de” followed by the medium or channel. The word should not be confused with the verb atravessar, which means to cross or to traverse; they are related etymologically but functionally distinct in a sentence.

See also

por meio de, via, a través (Spanish), à travers (French).