This is the 12600th most frequent Portuguese word.
toa
"Toa" in Portuguese refers to a state of relaxation or without urgency, often expressed as "à toa," meaning "aimlessly" or "idle."
'À toa' here means idle or without anything to do, describing someone's state of being without specific activity or purpose.
Ele ficou à toa o dia todo.
He was idle all day long.
In this context, 'à toa' means speaking without sense or reason, often implying impractical or irrelevant speech.
Não estou falando à toa; tenho certeza do que digo.
I'm not speaking nonsense; I'm sure of what I'm saying.
'À toa' here is used to describe an action that ended up being without utility or purpose.