própria

Própria is the feminine singular form of the Portuguese adjective próprio. It is used to express possession or association with the noun it modifies, as well as to emphasize an intrinsic or characteristic quality. Like its masculine counterpart, própria agrees with the noun in gender and number (a própria casa, as próprias ideias, as próprias pessoas).

The word derives from Latin proprius, meaning “one’s own” or “proper.” In usage, própria often carries a sense of ownership or emphasis: the speaker wants to highlight that something belongs to the subject or is inherent to it. It can also function as a reinforce­ment in phrases that mean “the very …” or “the own …” of a thing or person, as in a própria cidade or na própria essência do problema.

Common grammatical uses include:

- Demonstrating personal possession: minha própria decisão, a sua própria ideia.

- Emphasizing intrinsic qualities: a própria natureza do problema, a própria condição de alguém.

- Fixed expressions with reflexive sense: por si própria, por si mesma (by oneself), with o próprio or a própria as appropriate to gender.

Notes:

- Própria is the feminine form; the masculine form is próprio, and the plural forms are próprios (masculine) and próprias (feminine).

- It is used across Portuguese varieties with similar meanings, though frequency and nuance can vary by region and context.

In sum, própria is a versatile intensifier and determiner used to mark ownership, emphasis, and inherent attributes in feminine-noun constructions.