20+ Common Portuguese Verbs You Should Learn Today

Common Portuguese Verbs

It is almost impossible to have an entire conversation in Portuguese without using verbs. Verbs are the part of a sentence that indicate the topic or the action that is taking place in your expression. If you want to learn how to speak Portuguese, you must start by learning some common Portuguese verbs that you can use daily.

Let’s do an exercise: try to have a conversation in your native language without using verbs. Hard, right? If I start writing this article without using verbs, I bet it is not only not very enjoyable, but also it will be a real challenge to understand.

Verbs good. Important sentences. Important Portuguese. Fundamental. Common verbs next. For you – Did you imagine these sentences with a robot voice? Because I did! Not using verbs makes your speech robotic and, frankly, just weird. Verbs represent actions, both external, such as jump, run and laugh, and internal, like think, love and hate. Without verbs, you don’t do anything, you don’t feel anything, you are not even anything. 

Verbs are the heart and soul of speech and the only type of word that’s absolutely necessary to make a sentence. 

I am Groot - verbs in portuguese

What Is A Verb?

Let’s start with the basics from 1st grade: what is a verb? Verbs, or verbos in Portuguese, represent actions or just the act of existing, of being. Every sentence needs a verb to explain to the receiver of the sentence the thing that is being done or what is being felt by the protagonist of the sentence. If a sentence doesn’t have a verb, then it will be incomplete.

Just to understand the importance of a verb in a sentence, think about the funny character Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. He only knows 3 words: I. Am. Groot. Notice how one of them is a verb! 1/3 of his whole vocabulary is a verb!

I am Groot – Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy

Most Common Portuguese Verbs

Verbs in Portuguese have different infinitive versions; however, they most commonly end in four different ways: -ir, -er, -ar, and -or.

But what are some of Portuguese’s most important or commonly used verbs? Let’s look at some of these Portuguese verb conjugations, along with a few examples of them being used in a sentence.

To help you really grasp how these Portuguese verb tenses are used, along with the example, is a little blue play button that you can press and listen to the pronunciation of both the verb and the entire sentence so that you can practice your pronunciation.

  1. To Be / ser

The verb to be, or ser in Portuguese, is simply the way to say that someone, or something, exists and is like something or is somewhere. 

PortugueseEnglishSound
Eu souI am
Tu ésYou (singular) are
Ele/Ela éHe/She is


Nós somosWe are
Vós soisYou (plural) are
Eles/Elas sãoThey are


Example: Eu sou a Carolina – I am Carolina

  1. To Be / Estar

This verb also means “to be” in English; however, in Portuguese, it is used for temporary conditions and locations.

PortugueseEnglishSound
Eu estouI am
Tu estásYou (singular) are
Ele/Ela estáHe/She is


Nós estamosWe are
Vós estáisYou (plural) are
Eles/Elas estãoThey are


Example: Eu estou de férias – I am on vacation

To have in portuguese
  1. To Have / Ter
  • Eu tenho
  • Tu tens
  • Ele/Ela tem
  • Nós temos
  • Vós tendes
  • Eles/Elas têm

Example: Eu tenho um carro azul – I have a blue car; 

Eles têm muito trabalho – They have a lot of work.

  1. To do, make / Fazer
  • Eu faço
  • Tu fazes
  • Ele/Ela faz
  • Nós fazemos
  • Vós fazeis
  • Eles/Elas fazem

Example: Eu faço o jantar todos os dias – I make dinner everyday.

Eu faço tudo o que posso – I do everything I can.

  1. To go / Ir
  • Eu vou
  • Tu vais
  • Ele/Ela vai
  • Nós vamos
  • Vós ides
  • Eles/Elas vão

Example: Eu vou a casa amanhã. – I’ll go home tomorrow.

  1. Can / Poder
  • Eu posso
  • Tu podes
  • Ele/Ela pode
  • Nós pudemos
  • Vós podeis
  • Eles/Elas podem

Example: Eles podem sair. – They can leave.

  1. To Know / Saber
  • Eu sei
  • Tu sabes
  • Ele/Ela sabe
  • Nós sabemos
  • Vós sabeis
  • Eles/Elas sabem

Example: Ele sabe mais do que tu pensas. – He knows more than you think.

  1. To Put / Pôr
  • Eu ponho
  • Tu pões
  • Ele/Ela põe
  • Nós pomos
  • Vós pondes
  • Eles/Elas põem

Example: Nós poems tudo em cima da mesa. – We put everything on top of the table.

  1. To Like / Gostar
  • Eu gosto
  • Tu gostas
  • Ele/Ela gosta
  • Nós gostamos
  • Vós gostais
  • Eles/Elas gostam

Example: Ela gosta de café. – She likes coffee.

To love in portuguese
  1. To Love / Amar
  • Eu amo
  • Tu amas
  • Ele/Ela ama
  • Nós amamos
  • Vós amais
  • Eles/Elas amam

Example: Eu amo a minna mulher. – I love my wife.

  1. To Talk, Speak / Falar
  • Eu falo
  • Tu falas
  • Ele/Ela fala
  • Nós falamos
  • Vós falais
  • Eles/Elas falam

Example: Tu falas Uma lingua diferente – You speak a different language.

  1. To Say / Dizer
  • Eu digo
  • Tu dizes
  • Ele/Ela diz
  • Nós dizemos
  • Vós dizeis
  • Eles/Elas dizem

Example: Eles dizem que tu mudaste o canal – They say you changed the channel.

  1. To Want / Querer
  • Eu quero
  • Tu queres
  • Ele/Ela quer
  • Nós queremos
  • Vós quereis
  • Eles/Elas querem

Example: Eu quero ir a Paris. – I want to go to Paris.

  1. To See / Ver
  • Eu vejo
  • Tu vês
  • Ele/Ela vê
  • Nós vemos
  • Vós vides
  • Eles/Elas veêm

Example: Ela vê bem com os óculos. – She sees well with glasses.

  1. To Give / Dar
  • Eu dou
  • Tu dás
  • Ele/Ela dá
  • Nós damos
  • Vós dais
  • Eles/Elas dão

Example: Tu dos abraços sempre que o vês. – You give hugs every time you see him.

  1. To Find / Encontrar
  • Eu encontro
  • Tu encontras
  • Ele/Ela encontra
  • Nós encontramos
  • Vós encontreis
  • Eles/Elas encontram

Example: Eles encontram sempre lugar para estacionar. – They always find a place to park.

  1. To Bring / Trazer
  • Eu trago
  • Tu trazes
  • Ele/Ela traz
  • Nós trazemos
  • Vós trazeis
  • Eles/Elas trazem

Example: Eu trago o jantar. – I bring dinner.

  1. To Take / Levar
  • Eu levo
  • Tu levas
  • Ele/Ela leva
  • Nós levamos
  • Vós levais
  • Eles/Elas levam

Example: Tu levas o saco cheio. – You take a full bag.

  1. To Stay, To Be, To Become / Fica
  • Eu fico
  • Tu ficas
  • Ele/Ela fica
  • Nós ficamos
  • Vós fiqueis
  • Eles/Elas ficam

Example: Eu fico aqui à tua espera. – I stay here waiting for you.

Eu fico triste quando me tratas mal – I am sad when you treat me wrong.

  1. To Need / Precisar
  • Eu preciso
  • Tu precisas
  • Ele/Ela precisa
  • Nós precisamos
  • Vós preciseis
  • Eles/Elas precisam

Example: Eu preciso de ti. – I need you.

  1. To Come / Vir
  • Eu venho
  • Tu vens
  • Ele/Ela vem
  • Nós vimos
  • Vós vindes
  • Eles/Elas vêm

Example: Nós vimos de Portugal. – We come from Portugal.

As a quick note, this is the Portuguese verb conjugation for European Portuguese. If you plan on speaking Brazilian Portuguese, some of these verbs may be a bit different in terms of their verb conjugation.

learn Portuguese with Ling download Ling App

Wrapping Up!

Learning some Portuguese verbs was just the first step in speaking this beautiful language. If you want to explore more about Portuguese, we at Ling App have a blog filled with incredible articles that explore many topics around the Portuguese language, such as basic expressions you should know, how to say thank you, or Portuguese gastronomy.

Learn More Portuguese With Ling App

With just a few verbs, you’re ready to start exploring the Portuguese language and can start to compose your sentences. There are many great resources out there, but I have the best one for you to learn Portuguese fast and efficiently.

It is called Ling app, and it is a language learning application where you can learn, improve and practice your Portuguese through fun and proven methods, games, quizzes, and puzzles that will engage your brain and allow you to master Portuguese in a blink of an eye.

What are you waiting for? Improve your Portuguese with the help of Ling app!

Leave a Reply

People also read

Numbers In Portuguese: An Easy Way To Count From 1-100!

Numbers In Portuguese: An Easy Way To Count From 1-100!

|
9+ Best Ways To Say Good Morning In Portuguese

9+ Best Ways To Say Good Morning In Portuguese

|
#1 Best Guide To The Spoken Languages In Portugal

#1 Best Guide To The Spoken Languages In Portugal

|
Is Portuguese Hard To Learn? 7+ Best Reasons To Learn It

Is Portuguese Hard To Learn? 7+ Best Reasons To Learn It

|
How Long Does It Take To Learn Portuguese? 5+ Easy Tips

How Long Does It Take To Learn Portuguese? 5+ Easy Tips

|
4 Best Ways To Say Thank You In Portuguese

4 Best Ways To Say Thank You In Portuguese

|