tudo

Tudo is a pronoun in Portuguese that denotes "everything" or "all of it." It can function as the subject or object of a sentence and is common in clauses such as "Tudo está pronto" (Everything is ready). It also occurs in fixed expressions, especially in greetings such as "Tudo bem?" meaning "Are you well?"

Origin and related forms: Tudo derives from Latin totus, via Old Portuguese. It forms a contrast with the adjective "todo," which is used before nouns to mean "every" or "all" and is inflected for gender and number, while "tudo" is neuter and invariable.

Usage and examples: In everyday speech, "tudo" conveys the sense of totality or completeness. It appears in phrases like "de tudo um pouco" (a little bit of everything), "tudo de bom" (all good things), or "não sei de tudo" (I don't know everything). It is also used as a generalizing intensifier, as in "ele sabe de tudo" (he knows everything).

Grammatical notes: "Tudo" is neuter and invariable, functioning as a pronoun. By contrast, "todo" is a determiner/adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies (for example, "todo dia" or "toda casa," with gender and number marking). These forms occupy related but distinct roles in Portuguese grammar.