A quick-reference of Portuguese grammar as it's used in Brazil.
a gente » we (informal) Use as a substitute for nós (we). Brazilians use this in casual conversation because it's faster…
abrir » to open to open abrir I open eu abr o you/he/she open(s) você/ele/ela abr e Complete conjugation.
acabar » to end up to end up acabar I end up eu acab o you/he/she end(s) up você/ele/ela acab a…
acabar de » to have just (now) done something! To say you've "just done something" - use acabar + de. It's used almost always in…
aceitar: to accept to accept aceitar I accept eu aceit o you/he/she accept(s) você/ele/ela aceit a we accept nós…
acertar: to get right It's tough to find an English verb that matches this one! ACERTAR has the meaning of…
achar: to think, find to think, find achar I think eu ach o you/he/she think(s) você/ele/ela ach a Complete conjugation.
acompanhar: to accompany, follow to accompany, follow acompanhar I accompany eu acompanh o you/he/she accompany você/ele/ela acompan ha we accompany…
acontecer: to happen to happen acontecer it happens acontec e Complete conjugation.
acordar: to wake up to wake up acordar I wake up eu acord o you/he/she wake(s) up você/ele/ela acord a…
acostumar: to be used to, accustomed to accompany, follow acostumar I accompany eu acostum o you/he/she accompany você/ele/ela acostum a we accompany…
acreditar: to believe to believe acreditar I believe eu acredit o you/he/she believe(s) você/ele/ela acredit a Complete conjugation.
adicionar: to add to add adicionar I add eu adicion o you/he/she add(s) você/ele/ela adicion a we add nós…
adivinhar: to guess to guess adivinhar I guess eu adivinh o you/he/she guess(es) você/ele/ela adivinh a we guess nós…
administrar: to administer to administer, manage administrar I manage eu administr o you/he/she manage(s) você/ele/ela administr a Complete conjugation.
adorar: to adore, love I adore eu ador o you/he/she adores você/ele/ela ador a Complete conjugation.
Adverbs of Intensity Words that add emphasis such as almost, hardly, a lot, enough.
adverbs of manner Words that express the manner in which something happened. They add emphasis and emotion.
adverbs of place: longe & perto far from = longe de close to = perto de
adverbs of position & place POSITION: Words that describe position such as inside, on top of, below, beside. PLACE: Words that…
affirmations There are specific ways that agreement is expressed. All use the words certeza (certainty) and razão…
agradecer: to thank to thank agradecer I thank eu agradeç o you/he/she thanks(s) você/ele/ela agradec e Complete conjugation.
aguentar: to endure, stand to endure, stand aguentar I endure eu aguent o you/he/she endure(s) você/ele/ela aguent a Complete conjugation.
aí, ali & lá The 3 words used to express, there are: aí: where the listener is. ali: within eyesight…
ajudar: to help to help ajudar I help eu ajud o you/he/she helps você/ele/ela ajud a Complete conjugation.
almoçar: to (eat) lunch to lunch almoçar I lunch eu almoç o you/he/she lunch(es) você/ele/ela almoç a we lunch nós…
amar: to love to love amar I love eu am o you/he/she love(s) você/ele/ela am a we love nós…
andar: to walk, step to walk, step, go andar I walk eu and o you/he/she walks(s) você/ele/ela and a Complete…
antes de & depois de You always need to place a de after antes & depois. depois de » after of…
aparecer: to appear, show up to appear, show up aparecer I appear eu apareç o you/he/she appear(s) você/ele/ela aparec e we…
apostar: to bet to bet apostar I bet eu apost o you/he/she bet(s) você/ele/ela apost a Complete conjugation.
aprender: to learn to learn aprender I learn eu aprend o you/he/she learn(s) você/ele/ela aprend e Complete conjugation.
apresentar: to present, introduce I introduce eu apresent o you/he/she introduce(s) você/ele/ela apresent a Complete conjugation. to introduce, present apresentar…
aprovar: to approve to approve aprovar I approve eu aprov o you/he/she approve(s) você/ele/ela aprov a Complete conjugation.
aproveitar: to take advantage of aproveitar to take advantage of I take advantage of eu aproveit o you/he/she take(s) advantage of…
arrumar: to fix up to fix up arrumar I fix up eu arrum o you/he/she fixe(s) it up você/ele/ela arrum…
articles o & a In Portuguese, the article the is used more often than in English. It's commonly placed before…
assim Assim has two main meanings: like this & like that
assistir: to watch, to assist to watch, assist assistir I watch eu assist o you/he/she watch(es) você/ele/ela assist e we watch…
atender: to attend to attend atender I attend eu atend o you/he/she attend(s) você/ele/ela atend e Complete conjugation.
atrasar: to delay to delay atrasar I delay eu atras o you/he/she delay(s) você/ele/ela atras a Complete conjugation.
atravessar: to cross, pass-through to cross, pass-through atravessar I cross eu atravess o you/he/she cross(es) você/ele/ela atravess a we cross…
avisar: to notify to notify avisar I notify eu avis o you/he/she notify(ies) você/ele/ela avis a Complete conjugation.
baixar: to lower, download to lower baixar I lower eu baix o you/he/she lower(s) você/ele/ela baix a Complete conjugation.
bater: to beat, hit to hit bater I hit eu bat o you/he/she hit(s) você/ele/ela bat e Complete conjugation.
beber: to drink to drink beber I drink eu beb o you/he/she drink(s) você/ele/ela beb e Complete conjugation.
brigar: to fight, argue to brigar to fight I fight eu brig o you/he/she fight(s) você/ele/ela brig a Complete conjugation.
brincar: to play to play brincar I play eu brinc o you/he/she play(s) você/ele/ela brinc a Complete conjugation.
buscar: to pick-up, search for to pick-up, search for buscar I pick-up eu busc o you/he/she pick(s)-up(s) você/ele/ela busc a Complete…
cair: to fall to fall cair (irregular) I fall eu cai o you/he/she fall(s) você/ele/ela cai Complete conjugation.
calmar: to calm to calm calmar I calm eu calm o you/he/she calm(s) você/ele/ela calm a we calm nós…
casar: to marry to marry casar I marry eu cas o you/he/she marry(s) você/ele/ela cas a we marry nós…
chamar: to call, be named to call chamar I call eu cham o you/he/she call(s) você/ele/ela cham a Complete conjugation.
chegar: to arrive to arrive chegar I arrive eu cheg o you/he/she arrive(s) você/ele/ela cheg a Complete conjugation.
chegou a hora When you want to say, it's time to or, the time has come to... Use chegou…
cheirar: to smell to smell cheirar I smell eu cheir o you/he/she smell(s) você/ele/ela cheir a Complete conjugation.
chover: to rain to rain chover I rain eu chov o it rain(s) o/a chov e Complete conjugation.
colocar: to put, place Along with verbs botar & pôr, colocar is used is the same ways. to put, place…
com & sem You can use sem to say for example, that you want your coffee without sugar: SEM…
combinar: to agree, combine to arrange, agree on, combine combinar I arrange eu combin o you/he/she arrange(s) on você/ele/ela combin…
começar + a You always need to place an "a" right after the verb COMEÇAR when another verb follows.…
começar: to start, begin to begin, start começar I begin eu começ o you/he/she begin(s) você/ele/ela começ a Complete conjugation.
comemorar: to celebrate to celebrate comemorar I celebrate eu comemor o you/he/she celebrate(s) você/ele/ela comemor a Complete conjugation.
comer: to eat to eat comer I eat eu com o you/he/she eats(s) você/ele/ela com e Complete conjugation.
comparatives Comparing one thing to another is done by combining one of these words: superior, inferior, maior,…
completar: to complete to complete completar I complete eu complet o you/he/she complete(s) você/ele/ela complet a Complete conjugation.
comprar: to buy to buy comprar I buy eu compr o you/he/she buy(s) você/ele/ela compr a Complete conjugation.
conditional tense To say, would you add an ia to the verb's infinitive. The irregulars are not that…
confiar: to trust to trust confiar I trust eu confi o you/he/she trust(s) você/ele/ela confi a Complete conjugation.
conhecer: to know (be familiar with) to know (personally) conhecer I know eu conheç o you/he/she know(s) você/ele/ela conhec e Complete conjugation.
conseguir: to get, succeed By "to get" we mean, to get to do something, to manage. It's almost the same…
contar: to tell, count to tell, count contar I tell eu cont o you/he/she tells(s) você/ele/ela cont a Complete conjugation.
contractions ao & à a (to) always combines (contracts) with "the": o & a.
contractions desse, dessa, dele, dela De (of) can combine (contract) with esse/essa/isso as well as ele/ela.
contractions do & da De (of) combines (contracts) with 'the": o & a.
contractions naquele, naquela, naqulio Em combines (contracts) with aquele & aquela & aquilo. The translation is always, in that.
contractions no & na Em always combines (contracts) with "the": o & a.
contractions with a a (to) always combines (contracts) with certain words that follow it.
contractions with de De (of) can combine (contract) with certain words that follow it.
contractions with em Em always combines (contracts) with these words. It's actually rare to see em alone in a…
conversar: to converse to converse conversar I converse eu convers o you/he/she converse(s) você/ele/ela convers a Complete conjugation.
conversational estar In casual conversation, estar is abbreviated like this:
cuidar: to take care of This verb is usually used reflexively since the subject is most always receiving and doing the…
culpar: to blame to blame, fault culpar I blame eu culp o you/he/she blame(s) você/ele/ela culp a Complete conjugation.…
custar: to cost to cost custar I cost eu cust o you/he/she cost(s) você/ele/ela cust a Complete conjugation.
dançar: to dance to dance dançar I dance eu danç o you/he/she dance(s) você/ele/ela danç a Complete conjugation.
dar para DAR para = to be possible (to) Use this when you want to convey the possibility…
dar: to give to give dar (irregular) I give eu d ou you/he/she give(s) você/ele/ela d á Complete conjugation.
de The meaning of the preposition de changes with context to mean either of, from, by, with…
de graça de graça = free of charge / for free.
De onde você é? You are asking literally: Of where you are?; but the correct translation is of course: Where…
decidir: to decide to decide decidir I decide eu decid o you/he/she decide(s) você/ele/ela decid e Complete conjugation.
deixar: to leave, let to leave, let deixar I let eu deix o you/he/she let(s) você/ele/ela deix a Complete conjugation.
demonstrative pronouns There are 3 different words for saying this and 3 for that. Which one you use…
demorar: to delay, last, take time to delay, last, take time gritar I delay eu demor o you/he/she delay(s) você/ele/ela demor a…
descer, subir DESCER = to go down. It's most commonly used in the context of going up &…
descer: to descend, go down to descend, go down descer I go down eu desç o you/he/she go(es) down você/ele/ela desc…
descobrir: to discover to discover descobrir (irregular) I discover eu desc ubro you/he/she discover(s) você/ele/ela desc obre Complete conjugation.
desculpar: to excuse When you bump someone in the street you say, desculpa! This is actually short for, me…
desistir: to desist, give up to desist desistir I desist eu desist o you/he/she desist(s) você/ele/ela desist e Complete conjugation. DESISTIR…
desligar: to turn off to turn off desligar I turn off eu deslig o you/he/she turn(s) off você/ele/ela deslig a…
dever + verb You can combine dever with any verb in the infinitive to express should/must. Like this:
dever: must, ought must dever I must eu dev o you/he/she must você/ele/ela dev e Complete conjugation. DEVER usually…
deveria + ter deveria + ter = ought to have / should have
devolver: to give back to give back devolver I give back eu devolv o you/he/she give(s) back você/ele/ela devolv e…
diminutives & augmentatives Brazilians like to add endings at the end of words to give them a sense of…
dividir: to share, divide to share dividir I share eu divid o you/he/she share(s) você/ele/ela divid e Complete conjugation.
dizer: to say, tell to say dizer (irregular) I say eu di go you/he/she say(s) você/ele/ela di z Complete conjugation.
dormir: to sleep to sleep dormir (irregular) I sleep eu d urmo you/he/she sleep(s) você/ele/ela d orme Complete conjugation.
double negative It's not required to use a negative (não) twice in a sentence. However, Brazilians love to…
durar: to last to last durar I last eu dur o you/he/she last(s) você/ele/ela dur a Complete conjugation.
duvidar: to doubt to doubt duvidar I doubt eu duvid o you/he/she doubt(s) você/ele/ela duvid a Complete conjugation.
ele & ela in place of it As soon as you've brought up something in a sentence you can start referring to it…
em falta This expression using the verb FALTAR (to lack, run out of) means, to be out of.…
emprestar: to loan to loan emprestar I loan eu emprest o you/he/she loan(s) você/ele/ela emprest a Complete conjugation.
encher o saco ENCHER o saco = to fill the sack: to annoy, piss someone off.
encher: to fill to fill encher I fill eu ench o you/he/she fill(s) você/ele/ela ench e Complete conjugation.
encontrar: to meet to meet encontrar I meet eu encontr o you/he/she meet(s) você/ele/ela encontr a Complete conjugation.
entender: to understand to understand entender I understand eu entend o you/he/she understand(s) você/ele/ela entend e Complete conjugation.
entrar: to enter to enter entrar I enter eu entr o you/he/she enter(s) você/ele/ela entr a Complete conjugation.
esclarecer: to clarify to clarify esclarecer I clarify eu esclare ço you/he/she cheers(s) você/ele/ela esclarec e Complete conjugation.
esconder: to hide to hide esconder I hide eu escond o you/he/she hide(s) você/ele/ela escond e Complete conjugation.
escrever: to write to write escrever I write eu escrev o you/he/she write(s) você/ele/ela escrev e Complete conjugation.
esperar: to wait to wait, hope esperar I wait eu esper o you/he/she wait(s) você/ele/ela esper a Complete conjugation.
esquecer: to forget to forget esquecer I forget eu esqueç o you/he/she forget(s) você/ele/ela esquec e Complete conjugation. ESQUECER…
estar + com Use estar com to say things like,
estar + de Use estar de to say things like:
estar com ciúmes To be jealous.
estar: to be (temporary) Use estar to talk about temporary, passing things. to be (temporary) estar (irregular) I am eu…
estudar: to study to study estudar I study eu estud o you/he/she study(ies) você/ele/ela estud a Complete conjugation.
existir: to exist to exist existir I exist eu exist o you/he/she exist(s) você/ele/ela exist e Complete conjugation.
experimentar, provar EXPERIMENTAR & PROVAR both mean: to try out, to try on, to sample, to test Experimentar…
experimentar: to experiment, test to try, experiment experimentar I try eu experiment o you/he/she try(tries) você/ele/ela experiment a Complete conjugation.
explicar: to explain to explain explicar I explain eu explic o you/he/she explain(s) você/ele/ela explic a Complete conjugation.
expressing NEED Expressing need in Portuguese is almost always accomplished with PRECISAR. When talking about needing something PRECISAR…
Expressing: about The most used ways to express about are:
expression cá Cá means here (aqui). It's used in several very common phrases and you can't simply substitute…
expression cadê Cadê is an expression that's used in everyday speech - all the time! Use it to…
expression chato, chata Use chato to call something or someone annoying, boring, stupid.
expression pode ser When PODER is combined with SER it takes on the meaning, maybe, might be, could be.
expression ter como When TER is combined with como it takes on the meaning, to be able to, to…
expression: jeito jeito = way, manner Several important expressions use this word: dar um jeito Literally, to give…
expressions of time the past
expressions using dar There are many key expressions that Brazilians use with the verb DAR (to give):
expressions using deixar There are several key expressions that Brazilians use with the verb DEIXAR.
expressions using fazer There are several key expressions that Brazilians use with the verb FAZER.
fala sério This expression means: Be serious!
falar: to speak to talk, speak falar I speak eu fal o you/he/she speak(s) você/ele/ela fal a Complete conjugation.
faltar: to lack, miss, be out of to miss faltar I miss eu falt o you/he/she dream(s) você/ele/ela falt a Complete conjugation.
fazer: to make, do to make, do fazer (irregular) I do eu faç o you/he/she do(does) você/ele/ela faz Complete conjugation.
fechar: to close to close fechar I close eu fech o you/he/she close(s) você/ele/ela fech a Complete conjugation.
ficar: to remain, stay, become to remain, stay, become ficar I stay eu fic o you/he/she stay(s) você/ele/ela fic a Complete…
formal address When you want to address someone that's older or, in a formal situation use: o senhor…
formar: to form to form formar I form eu form o you/he/she form(s) você/ele/ela form a Complete conjugation. FORMAR…
frequentar: to frequent to frequent frequentar I frequent eu frequent o you/he/she frequent(s) você/ele/ela frequent a Complete conjugation.
fumar: to smoke to smoke fumar I smoke eu fum o you/he/she smoke(s) você/ele/ela fum a Complete conjugation.
funcionar: to function to function funcionar I function eu funcion o you/he/she function(s) você/ele/ela funcion a Complete conjugation.
future subjunctive Use the future subjunctive tense to talk about things that are likely to happen, but that…
future subjunctive – irregular verbs These are the most common irregulars in the future subjunctive tense.
future tense *Also called: future indicative, future of the present
ganhar: to gain, win to gain ganhar I win eu ganh o you/he/she win(s) você/ele/ela ganh a Complete conjugation.
gender Nouns are usually preceded by the (article) o, or a: o hotel, a casa Names of…
gostar de The verb gostar is always followed by a de. This translates as, to like of.
gostar: to like to like gostar I like eu gost o you/he/she like(s) você/ele/ela gost a Complete conjugation.
gritar: to yell, scream, shout to yell, scream gritar I scream eu grit o you/he/she scream(s) você/ele/ela grit a Complete conjugation.…
guardar: to keep to keep guardar I keep eu guard o you/he/she keep(s) você/ele/ela guard a Complete conjugation.
haver HAVER is used mainly to say:
imaginar: to imagine to imagine imaginar I imagine eu imagin o you/he/she imagine(s) você/ele/ela imagin a Complete conjugation.
imperative mood » For AR regular verbs you just replace the a with an e. » For ER…
Imperfect Indicative tense Use the Imperfect Indicative when talking about actions that were continuous, habitual, or repeated over an…
imperfect subjunctive Use the imperfect subjunctive tense to talk about things that are extremely unlikely to have happened…
imperfect subjunctive + conditional The imperfect subjunctive tense is used to talk about things that are extremely unlikely to have…
imperfect tense of estar To express was. When talking about action in the past, use the imperfect indicative tense of…
Imperfect tense of SABER Saber is irregular in the Imperfect Indicative tense. ✻ The Imperfect tense is used when talking…
Imperfect tense of SER Ser is irregular in the Imperfect Indicative tense. ✻ The Imperfect tense is used when talking…
Imperfect tense of TER Ter is irregular in the Imperfect Indicative tense. ✻ The Imperfect tense is used when talking…
importar: to matter, import to matter, import importar I matter eu import o you/he/she matter(s) você/ele/ela import a Complete conjugation.
incomodar: to bother to bother incomodar I bother eu incomod o you/he/she bother(s) você/ele/ela incomod a Complete conjugation.
indefinite pronoun: todo todo(a) = all, every
indefinite pronouns: algo, nada, tudo, cada Called indefinite pronouns because they refer to things that are indefinite. algo = something nada =…
indefinite pronouns: algum, nenhum algum(a) = some nenhum(a) = no one
indefinite pronouns: algum, nenhum, pouco, muito, todo Indefinite pronouns refer to an INDEFINITE NUMBER of things: some, none, few, many & every. They…
indefinite pronouns: pouco, muito pouco(a) = few, a little muito(a) = much, many
indefinite pronouns: qualquer, bastante, tanto These indefinite pronouns are also very common. qualquer = whicever one, whatever bastante = plenty tanto(a)…
indefinite pronouns: uns, vários, certo These indefinite pronouns are also very common. uns = some (masculine) umas = some (feminine) vários(as)…
indicar: to indicate, recommend to recommend indicar I recommend eu indic o you/he/she recommend(s) você/ele/ela indic a Complete conjugation.
introductions Muito Prazer In Portuguese, you actually say something like Much pleasure to know you. Muito prazer…
ir embora The phrase vamos embora evolved from the old time phrase Vamos em boa hora. Say it…
ir: to go In the present tense IR translates as I go, she goes, we go ETC. It's (very)…
já volto Já volto means, I’ll be right back. Literally, already, I’m back. You just need to remember…
jurar: to swear, vow to swear jurar I swear eu jur o you/he/she swear(s) você/ele/ela jur a Complete conjugation.
largar: to let go, quit to release, let go largar I let go eu larg o you/he/she let's go você/ele/ela larg…
lembrar: to remember to remember lembrar I remember eu lembr o you/he/she remember(s) você/ele/ela lembr a Complete conjugation.
levantar: to get up to get up levantar I get up eu levant o you/he/she get(s) up você/ele/ela levant a…
levar: to carry, take to take, carry levar I take eu lev o you/he/she take(s) você/ele/ela lev a Complete conjugation.
ligar: to call, connect Use ligar to talk about calling or connecting - almost always when talking about modern technology:…
mais To express things like newer, older, prettier, more expensive etc., use mais.
mais cedo, mais tarde Literally: more early, more late. Use this to say: sooner or later.
marcar: to schedule to schedule marcar I schedule eu marc o you/he/she schedule(s) você/ele/ela marc a MARCAR is often…
me deixa DEIXAR = to leave, let. Brazilians use this verb all the time in expressions such as…
melhor The best. It doesn't change with gender it's always: o melhor; a melhor.
melhorar: to improve to improve melhorar I improve eu melhor o you/he/she imprrove(s) você/ele/ela melhor a Complete conjugation.
mergulhar: to swim to swim mergulhar I swim eu mergulh o you/he/she swim(s) você/ele/ela mergulh a Complete conjugation.
mesmo Mesmo can be used to add emphasis in the same way really does.
mexer: to move, stir to move mexer I move eu mex o you/he/she move(s) você/ele/ela mex e Complete conjugation.
morar: to live to live morar I live eu mor o you/he/she live(s) você/ele/ela mor a Complete conjugation.
morrer: to die to die morrer I die eu morr o you/he/she die(s) você/ele/ela morr e Complete conjugation.
mostrar: to show to show mostrar I show eu mostr o you/he/she show(s) você/ele/ela mostr a Complete conjugation.
mudar: to move, change to move, change mudar I move, change eu mud o you/he/she move(s) você/ele/ela mud a Complete…
muito & muita When talking about the degree (very), always use muito.
muito prazer The proper way to say this is, muito prazer em conhecer você ➜➜ very pleased to…
nada a ver Use this to express: nothing to do (with). The cost has nothing to do with it.…
namorar: to date to date namorar I date eu namor o you/he/she date(s) você/ele/ela namor a Complete conjugation.
não dá No way! It's impossible.
não é Isn't it. This usually gets shortened to "né".
nem Use nem when you want to say, don't even.
O que é isso? This means What is this? Commonly abbreviated to: O que isso? | Que isso? You can…
object pronouns (advanced) Simple object pronouns: Substitute te for você. Advanced object pronouns: You can say "it" and, "them"…
object pronouns (simple) There are two extremely common substitutions made in conversational Portuguese: para você > gets replaced by…
observar: to observe to observe observar I observe eu observ o you/he/she observe(s) você/ele/ela observ a Complete conjugation.
ocupar: to occupy to occupy ocupar I occupy eu ocup o you/he/she occupy(ies) você/ele/ela ocup a Complete conjugation.
olhar: to look to look olhar I look eu olh o you/he/she look(s) você/ele/ela olh a Complete conjugation.
onde Onde in Portuguese is used in several different ways. It's important to use it with the…
or ending verbs pôr, supor, dispor, propor, expor, compor ✻ or ending verbs are RARE. This list is not…
ordinal numbers Números ordinais are the way to say first, second, third ETC. These need to be gendered…
pagar: to pay to pay pagar I pay eu pag o you/he/she pay(s) você/ele/ela pag a Complete conjugation.
papo BATER papo = to chat (literally: to hit chat). O papo = the chat.
para Para has two meanings. (1) to (a place) You can use either a, or para to…
parar + de You always need to place an “de” right after the verb PARAR and a verb that…
parar: to stop to stop parar I stop eu par o you/he/she stop(s) você/ele/ela par a Complete conjugation.
parecer: to seem, appear to seem, appear parecer (irregular) I appear eu pareç o you/he/she appear(s) você/ele/ela parec e *Often…
participar: to participate to participate participar I participate eu particip o you/he/she participate(s) você/ele/ela particip a Complete conjugation.
partir: to depart, leave to leave, depart partir I leave eu part o you/he/she leaves(s) você/ele/ela part e Complete conjugation.
passar: to pass to pass passar I pass eu pass o you/he/she pass(es) você/ele/ela pass a Complete conjugation.
past participles A past participle is just a verb conjugation that describes something that is over and done:…
pedir: to ask for, request to ask for, request pedir (irregular) I ask for eu pe ço you/he/she ask(s) for você/ele/ela…
pegar: to get, take to get, take pegar I get eu peg o you/he/she get(s) você/ele/ela peg a Complete conjugation.
pensar: to think to think pensar I think eu pens o you/he/she think(s) você/ele/ela pens a Complete conjugation.
perceber: to realize, perceive to realize, perceive perceber I realize eu per cibo you/he/she realize(s) você/ele/ela per cebe Complete conjugation.
perder: to lose to lose perder (irregular) I lose eu per co you/he/she lose(s) você/ele/ela per de Complete conjugation.
perguntar: to ask to ask perguntar I ask eu pergunt o you/he/she ask(s) você/ele/ela pergunt a Complete conjugation.
pesar: to weigh to weigh pesar I weigh eu pes o you/he/she weigh(s) você/ele/ela pes a Complete conjugation.
physical descriptions Brazilians often call people by their physical attributes -- even if it's potentially unflattering or offensive…
plurals: l, r, s, z endings Words ending in r: add es ---------------------------------- Words ending in s: add es ---------------------------------- Words ending…
plurals: m, ão endings Ending in "m" change the m to ns.
plurals: simple case Simple case: just add an s.
poder + verb Poder = to be able to, can. It's often paired with a verb like this:
poder: to be able to, can It's similar to CONSEGUIR but used more often. Its conjugation is irregular.
por + articles por = by, for Por often gets used along with "the" (o, a). When it does…
Portuguese Adverbs Words that describe how, when, where, why, or to what extent—how often or how much (e.g.,…
possessive pronouns mine & yours mine = meu / minha yours = seu / sua
pousar: to land to land pousar I land eu pous o you/he/she land(s) você/ele/ela pous a Complete conjugation.
precisar If you’re talking about needing a person, place or thing (ie: a noun), always place a…
precisar + verb IWhen PRECISAR is followed by another verb you don't need the de. But the following verb…
precisar: to need to need precisar I need eu precis o you/he/she need(s) você/ele/ela precis a Complete conjugation. PRECISAR…
preferir: to prefer to prefer preferir (irregular) I prefer eu pref iro you/he/she prefer(s) você/ele/ela prefer e Complete conjugation.
preocupar: to worry to worry preocupar I worry eu preocup o you/he/she worry(ies) você/ele/ela preocup a Complete conjugation.
preparar: to prepare to prepare preparar I prepare eu prepar o you/he/she prepare(s) você/ele/ela prepar a Complete conjugation.
preposition por por = by, for, per, in, of, to, with, via, out of, for the sake of…
prepositions These are the most common Portuguese prepositions: a = at, to de = of, from em…
present indicative irregulars There are plenty of irregular verbs in the present tense (the present indicative). These are the…
present perfect The Present Perfect is used to talk about action that's on-going: what has been happening. For…
present subjunctive Use the present subjunctive tense to talk about things that are plausible yet uncertain to happen…
present tense ~ar verbs to say, speak falar I say eu fal o you/he/she say(s) você/ele/ela fal a we say…
present tense ~er verbs to eat comer I eat eu com o you/he/she eat(s) você/ele/ela com e we eat nós…
present tense ~ir verbs There aren't many ~ir verbs. The most common include: ir vir sair cair abrir pedir seguir…
present tense of ser Ser is very irregular. to be (permanent) ser I am eu sou you/he/she are/is você/ele/ela é…
present tense: descobrir, sair Some popular irregular verbs in the present tense. to discover descobrir I discover eu desc ubro…
present tense: perder, pedir, dormir Some popular irregular verbs in the present tense. to lose perder I lose eu per co…
present vs. past: pedir, ouvir PEDIR and OUVIR have similar ~irregulr conjugations in the present and the simple past. These are…
prestar: to pay, deliver, be worthy PRESTAR is commonly only used to express three things: (1) providing, supplying a service. (2) expressing…
prever: to predict to predict prever I predict eu prev ejo you/he/she predict(s) você/ele/ela prev ê Complete conjugation.
primeiro, primeira Primeiro(a) means, first. The ending has to agree with the subject gender.
procurar: to procure, look for to look for procurar I look for eu procur o you/he/she look(s) for você/ele/ela procur a…
provar: to prove, try out to prove, try out provar I try out eu prov o you/he/she try(ies) out você/ele/ela prov…
puxar: to pull to pull puxar I pull eu pux o you/he/she pull(s) você/ele/ela pux a Complete conjugation.
Quantos anos você tem? Use the verb TER when talking about age. In Portuguese you have years. In English you…
quebrar: to break to break quebrar I break eu quebr o you/he/she break(s) você/ele/ela quebr a Complete conjugation.
querer dizer This translates to "to mean".
querer: to want to want querer (irregular) I want eu quer o you/he/she want(s) você/ele/ela quer Complete conjugation.
question words (interrogative pronouns)
reflexive verbs A verb becomes reflexive when it's used to talk about doing something to oneself, such as…
relaxar: to relax to relax relaxar I relax eu relax o you/he/she relax(es) você/ele/ela relax a Complete conjugation.
remarcar: to reschedule to reschedule remarcar I reschedule eu remarc o you/he/she reschedule(s) você/ele/ela remarc a Complete conjugation.
reparar: to notice to notice reparar I notice eu repar o you/he/she notice(s) você/ele/ela repar a Complete conjugation.
repetir: to repeat to repeat repetir I repeat eu rep ito you/he/she repeat(s) você/ele/ela repet e Complete conjugation.
resolver: to resolve to resolve resolver I resolve eu resolv o you/he/she resolve(s) você/ele/ela resolv e Complete conjugation.
respirar: to breathe to breathe respirar I breathe eu respir o you/he/she breathe(s) você/ele/ela respir a Complete conjugation.
responder: to respond to respond responder I respond eu respond o you/he/she respond(s) você/ele/ela respond e Complete conjugation.
saber: to know (a fact) to know (a fact) saber (irregular) I know eu s ei you/he/she know(s) você/ele/ela sab e…
sair: to leave, go out to leave sair (irregular) I leave eu sai o you/he/she leave(s) você/ele/ela sai Complete conjugation.
saudade Use saudade to express longing and missing. It can be of a person or a place…
seja is used to express "be!" or, "will be". It also translates to, rather. Pronounced: SAY-ZHA This…
sem + verb You can combine sem, plus (almost) any verb in it’s infinitive form. You can use this…
sentir: to feel to feel sentir (irregular) I feel eu s into you/he/she feel(s) você/ele/ela s ente Complete conjugation.
ser & estar Ser is for somewhat permanent characteristics. Don't take this too literally - nothing is truly permanent…
ser & ficar Ser & Ficar can often be used interchangeably in cases like these: location When talking about…
ser & ficar: becoming Ser & Ficar can often be used interchangeably in cases like these: becoming / getting to…
ser & ficar: location Ser & ficar can be used interchangeably to talk about the location of something: When talking…
ser in the infinitive Just like any verb, you can use ser (to be) in it’s infinitive.
ser: to be (permanent) to be (permanent) ser I am eu sou you/he/she are(is) você/ele/ela é Complete conjugation.
seria SER = to be. Seria is the conditional form: would be.
servir: to serve to serve servir I serve eu s irvo you/he/she serves(s) você/ele/ela serv e Complete conjugation.
significar: to signify, mean to signify, mean significar I mean eu signific o you/he/she mean(s) você/ele/ela signific a Complete conjugation.
simple past tense ~ar verbs "simple past" = action that is over and done. This is called, the preterit indicative tense.…
simple past tense ~er verbs The "simple past" = action that is over and done. Officially called the Preterit Indicative tense.…
simple past tense ~ir verbs The "simple past" = action that is over and done. Officially called the Preterit Indicative tense.…
simple past tense: ser, ir The preterite of ser and ir ~ These two essential verbs are very irregular in the…
simple past tense: ter, dizer, fazer Some popular irregular verbs in the simple past tense. to have ter I had eu t…
Slang and Idioms UNDER CONSTRUCTION Slang is a type of language that is informal and playful. It often changes…
soltar: to release, let go to release, let go soltar I let go eu solt o you/he/she let's go você/ele/ela solt…
sonhar: to dream to dream sonhar I dream eu sonh o you/he/she dream(s) você/ele/ela sonh a Complete conjugation.
sua praia This a common expression used to say: your thing (as in, something one likes). Use it…
subir: to go up to go up subir I go up eu sub o you/he/she go(es) up você/ele/ela sob e…
tanto(a) That much, so much, as much, so many.
tão Use tão to express so, so much, so very. Use it convey degree, not quantity.
ter que To have to or, must. Ter que literally means to have that.
ter: to have to have ter (irregular) I have eu t enho you/he/she have(has) você/ele/ela t em Complete conjugation.
terminar – to end, finish, terminate to finish, end terminar I finish eu termin o you/he/she finishes(s) você/ele/ela termin a Complete conjugation.…
the infinitive The Portuguese infinitive is just the verb itself - unconjugated. These generally translate as "to run,…
the Present Progressive Use this to say what's happening right now: I'm working, He's surfing, You're talking, etc. It's…
the preterit indicative tense In Portuguese, the present tense verbs (formally called the preterite indicative) are divided into three groups:…
tirar: to remove, take away to remove tirar I remove eu tir o you/he/she remove(s) você/ele/ela tir a Complete conjugation.
todo mundo Use todo mundo to express everyone. It literally means: the entire world.
tomar: to take to take tomar I take eu tom o you/he/she take(s) você/ele/ela tom a Complete conjugation.
torcer: to cheer, root for to cheer torcer I cheer eu tor ço you/he/she cheers(s) você/ele/ela torc e Complete conjugation.
trabalhar: to work to work trabalhar I work eu trabalh o you/he/she work(s) você/ele/ela trabalh a Complete conjugation.
trancar – to lock, latch to lock, latch trancar I lock eu tranc o you/he/she locks(s) você/ele/ela tranc a Complete conjugation.…
trazer: to bring to bring trazer I bring eu trag o you/he/she bring(s) você/ele/ela traz Complete conjugation.
trocar: to trade, exchange to trade, exchange trocar I trade eu troc o you/he/she trade(s) você/ele/ela troc a Complete conjugation.
tudo bem tudo bem = everything fine or, everything ok. It can be a question as well as…
usar: to use, to wear I use eu us o you/he/she uses você/ele/ela us a
using ir to express the future You can use ir (to go) to say where you're going, or what you're going to…
valer a pena When VALER is combined with a pena (the penalty), it takes on the meaning of to…
valer: to be worth to value, be worth valer (irregular) I value eu val ho you/he/she value(s) você/ele/ela val e…
vender: to sell to sell vender I sell eu vend o you/he/she sells(s) você/ele/ela vend e Complete conjugation.
ver: to see to see, watch ver (irregular) I see eu v ejo you/he/she see(s) você/ele/ela v ê Complete…
vestir: to wear to wear vestir (irregular) I wear eu v isto you/he/she wear(s) você/ele/ela v este Complete conjugation.
viajar: to travel to travel viajar I travel eu viaj o you/he/she travel(s) você/ele/ela viaj a Complete conjugation.
VIR vs. VER pronunciation ✱ It's easy to mix up the pronunciation of vir with ver: ➜ to come |||…
vir: to come Vir is irregular and there are no other verbs with a similar conjugation. Present Tense: to…
visitar: to visit to visit visitar I visit eu visit o you/he/she visit(s) você/ele/ela visit a Complete conjugation.
viver: to live to live viver I live eu viv o you/he/she live(s) você/ele/ela viv e Complete conjugation.
voltar: to return to return, come back voltar I return eu volt o you/he/she return(s) você/ele/ela volt a Complete…