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.
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.
- 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.
| Portuguese | English | Sound |
| Eu sou | I am | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu sou[/Speechword] |
| Tu és | You (singular) are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu és[/Speechword] |
| Ele/Ela é | He/She is | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ele[/Speechword] [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela é[/Speechword] |
| Nós somos | We are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós somos[/Speechword] |
| Vós sois | You (plural) are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós sois[/Speechword] |
| Eles/Elas são | They are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eles[/Speechword] [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas são[/Speechword] |
Example: Eu sou a Carolina – I am Carolina
- To Be / Estar
This verb also means “to be” in English; however, in Portuguese, it is used for temporary conditions and locations.
| Portuguese | English | Sound |
| Eu estou | I am | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu estou[/Speechword] |
| Tu estás | You (singular) are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu estás[/Speechword] |
| Ele/Ela está | He/She is | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ele[/Speechword] [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela está[/Speechword] |
| Nós estamos | We are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós estamos[/Speechword] |
| Vós estáis | You (plural) are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós estáis[/Speechword] |
| Eles/Elas estão | They are | [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eles[/Speechword] [Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas estão[/Speechword] |
Example: Eu estou de férias – I am on vacation
- To Have / Ter
- Eu tenho
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu tenho[/Speechword] - Tu tens
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu tens[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela tem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela tem[/Speechword] - Nós temos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós temos[/Speechword] - Vós tendes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós tendes[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas têm
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas têm[/Speechword]
Example: Eu tenho um carro azul – I have a blue car;
Eles têm muito trabalho – They have a lot of work.
- To do, make / Fazer
- Eu faço
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu faço[/Speechword] - Tu fazes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu fazes[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela faz
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela faz[/Speechword] - Nós fazemos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós fazemos[/Speechword] - Vós fazeis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós fazeis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas fazem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas fazem[/Speechword]
Example: Eu faço o jantar todos os dias – I make dinner everyday.
Eu faço tudo o que posso – I do everything I can.
- To go / Ir
- Eu vou
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu vou[/Speechword] - Tu vais
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu vais[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela vai
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela vai[/Speechword] - Nós vamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós vamos[/Speechword] - Vós ides
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós ides[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas vão
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas vão[/Speechword]
Example: Eu vou a casa amanhã. – I’ll go home tomorrow.
- Can / Poder
- Eu posso
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu posso[/Speechword] - Tu podes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu podes[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela pode
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela pode[/Speechword] - Nós pudemos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós pudemos[/Speechword] - Vós podeis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós podeis
[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas podem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas podem[/Speechword]
Example: Eles podem sair. – They can leave.
- To Know / Saber
- Eu sei
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu sei[/Speechword] - Tu sabes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu sabes[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela sabe
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela sabe[/Speechword] - Nós sabemos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós sabemos[/Speechword] - Vós sabeis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós sabeis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas sabem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas sabem[/Speechword]
Example: Ele sabe mais do que tu pensas. – He knows more than you think.
- To Put / Pôr
- Eu ponho
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu ponho[/Speechword] - Tu pões
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu pões[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela põe
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela põe[/Speechword] - Nós pomos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós pomos[/Speechword] - Vós pondes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós pondes[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas põem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas põem[/Speechword]
Example: Nós poems tudo em cima da mesa. – We put everything on top of the table.
- To Like / Gostar
- Eu gosto
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu gosto[/Speechword] - Tu gostas
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu gostas[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela gosta
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela gosta[/Speechword] - Nós gostamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós gostamos[/Speechword] - Vós gostais
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós gostais[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas gostam
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas gostam[/Speechword]
Example: Ela gosta de café. – She likes coffee.
- To Love / Amar
- Eu amo
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu amo[/Speechword] - Tu amas
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu amas[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela ama
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela ama[/Speechword] - Nós amamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós amamos[/Speechword] - Vós amais
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós amais[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas amam
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas amam[/Speechword]
Example: Eu amo a minna mulher. – I love my wife.
- To Talk, Speak / Falar
- Eu falo
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu falo[/Speechword] - Tu falas
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu falas[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela fala
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela fala[/Speechword] - Nós falamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós falamos[/Speechword] - Vós falais
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós falais[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas falam
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas falam[/Speechword]
Example: Tu falas Uma lingua diferente – You speak a different language.
- To Say / Dizer
- Eu digo
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu digo[/Speechword] - Tu dizes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu dizes[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela diz
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela diz[/Speechword] - Nós dizemos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós dizemos[/Speechword] - Vós dizeis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós dizeis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas dizem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas dizem[/Speechword]
Example: Eles dizem que tu mudaste o canal – They say you changed the channel.
- To Want / Querer
- Eu quero
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu quero [/Speechword] - Tu queres
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu queres
[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela quer
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela quer[/Speechword] - Nós queremos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós queremos
[/Speechword] - Vós quereis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós quereis
[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas querem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas querem[/Speechword]
Example: Eu quero ir a Paris. – I want to go to Paris.
- To See / Ver
- Eu vejo
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu vejo[/Speechword] - Tu vês
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu vês[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela vê
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela vê[/Speechword] - Nós vemos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós vemos[/Speechword] - Vós vides
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós vides[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas veêm
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas veêm[/Speechword]
Example: Ela vê bem com os óculos. – She sees well with glasses.
- To Give / Dar
- Eu dou
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu dou[/Speechword] - Tu dás
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu dás[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela dá
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela dá[/Speechword] - Nós damos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós damos[/Speechword] - Vós dais
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós dais[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas dão
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas dão[/Speechword]
Example: Tu dos abraços sempre que o vês. – You give hugs every time you see him.
- To Find / Encontrar
- Eu encontro
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu encontro[/Speechword] - Tu encontras
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu encontras[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela encontra
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela encontra[/Speechword] - Nós encontramos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós encontramos[/Speechword] - Vós encontreis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós encontreis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas encontram
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]las encontram[/Speechword]
Example: Eles encontram sempre lugar para estacionar. – They always find a place to park.
- To Bring / Trazer
- Eu trago
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu trago[/Speechword] - Tu trazes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu trazes[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela traz
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela traz[/Speechword] - Nós trazemos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós trazemos[/Speechword] - Vós trazeis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós trazeis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas trazem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas trazem[/Speechword]
Example: Eu trago o jantar. – I bring dinner.
- To Take / Levar
- Eu levo
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu levo[/Speechword] - Tu levas
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu levas[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela leva
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela leva[/Speechword] - Nós levamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós levamos[/Speechword] - Vós levais
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós levais[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas levam
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas levam[/Speechword]
Example: Tu levas o saco cheio. – You take a full bag.
- To Stay, To Be, To Become / Fica
- Eu fico
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu fic[/Speechword] - Tu ficas
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu ficas[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela fica
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela fica[/Speechword] - Nós ficamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós ficamos[/Speechword] - Vós fiqueis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós fiqueis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas ficam
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas ficam[/Speechword]
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.
- To Need / Precisar
- Eu preciso
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu preciso[/Speechword] - Tu precisas
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu precisas[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela precisa
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela precisa[/Speechword] - Nós precisamos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós precisamos[/Speechword] - Vós preciseis
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós preciseis[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas precisam
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas precisam[/Speechword]
Example: Eu preciso de ti. – I need you.
- To Come / Vir
- Eu venho
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Eu venho[/Speechword] - Tu vens
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Tu vens[/Speechword] - Ele/Ela vem
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Ela vem[/Speechword] - Nós vimos
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Nós vimos
[/Speechword] - Vós vindes
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Vós vindes[/Speechword] - Eles/Elas vêm
[Speechword voice=”Portuguese Female” isinline]Elas vêm[/Speechword]
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.
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.
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