22 Most Common Portuguese Verbs You Need to Know
Looking for the most common Portuguese verbs? Here are 22 essential verbs in European Portuguese, with English translations and practical examples to help you start using them in everyday conversations.
You will find essential verbs such as ser
You can hear these verbs in our video, where we cover the 50 most commonly used verbs by Portuguese speakers: TOP 50 most used verbs by the Portuguese.
Top 22 Most Common Portuguese Verbs
You now understand European Portuguese pronouns, verb groups, moods, and tenses. Let’s explore the most common Portuguese verbs.
Beber – To Drink (Regular)
Se eles forem ao café, ele beberá um chocolate quente. (If they go to the café, he will drink a hot chocolate.)
Comer – To Eat (Regular)
Nós comemos num restaurante
Falar – To Speak (Regular)
Elas falam português
Ficar – To Stay (Regular)
Elas ficam aqui para jantar
Gostar (de) – To Like / Enjoy (Regular)
Elas gostam de ir à praia no fim de semana
Levar – To Take (Regular)
Elas levam os sacos para as compras
Ligar – To Call Someone / Turn On / Connect (Regular)
Eu vou ligar à minha mãe
Perguntar – To Ask (Regular)
Ele perguntou se queres um gelado
Precisar (de) – To Need (Regular)
Elas precisam de ajuda para a mudança
Vender – To Sell (Regular)
Eu vendi a minha casa
Dar – To Give (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu dou
- Tudás
- Ele/Ela dá
- Nós damos
- Vós dais / Vocês dão
- Eles/Elas dão
Dizer – To Say (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu digo
- Tu dizes
- Ele/Ela diz
- Nós dizemos
- Vós dizeis / Vocês dizem
- Eles/Elas dizem
Fazer – To Do / Make (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu faço
- Tu fazes
- Ele/Ela faz
- Nós fazemos
- Vós fazeis / Vocês fazem
- Eles/Elas fazem
Poder – Can / To Be Able To (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu posso
- Tu podes
- Ele/Ela pode
- Nós podemos
- Vós podeis / Vocês podem
- Eles/Elas podem
Poder is an irregular verb, usually accompanied by another verb that defines the action.
Querer – To Want (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu quero
- Tu queres
- Ele/Ela quer
- Nós queremos
- Vós quereis / Vocês querem
- Eles/Elas querem
Saber – To Know (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu sei
- Tu sabes
- Ele/Ela sabe
- Nós sabemos
- Vós sabeis / Vocês sabem
- Eles/Elas sabem
Ter – To Have (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu tenho
- Tu tens
- Ele/Ela tem
- Nós temos
- Vós tendes/ Vocês têm
- Eles/Elas têm
Trazer – To Bring (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu trago
- Tu trazes
- Ele/Ela traz
- Nós trazemos
- Vós trazeis / Vocês trazem
- Eles/Elas trazem
Ir – To Go (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu vou
- Tu vais
- Ele/Ela vai
- Nós vamos
- Vós ides / Vocês vão
- Eles/Elas vão
Vir – To Come (Irregular verb)
Present tense:
- Eu venho
- Tu vens
- Ele/Ela vem
- Nós vimos
- Vós vindes / Vocês vêm
- Eles/Elas vêm
The Most Important Portuguese Verbs for Beginners
Like the English verb “To be,” its equivalents “Ser” and “Estar” are two of the most common Portuguese verbs. “Estar” describes a condition or state. “Ser” describes specific characteristics inherent to the subject.
For example, to say you feel happy right now, you would say: Eu estou feliz
The Portuguese Verb Estar (To Be)
- Eu estou
- Tu estás
- Ele/Ela está
- Nós estamos
- Vós estais or Vocês estão
- Eles/Elas estão
The Portuguese Verb Ser (To Be)
- Eu sou
- Tu és
- Ele é
- Nós somos
- Vós sois or Vocês são
- Eles/Elas são
Regular and Irregular Portuguese Verbs
Similar to other Romance languages, Portuguese has three main regular verb groups. They gather verbs by their termination in the Infinitive form: -ar, -er, or -ir.
Within these groups, there are regular and irregular verbs. If they follow a rule when conjugated, they are classified as regular. Otherwise, if there are changes to the root morphemes of the verbs in conjugation, they are irregular.
Common Portuguese Verb Groups
-ar
This first group includes verbs like “Andar” (Walk) or “Ficar” (Stay). Regular verbs that end in -ar have the following terminations when conjugated in the Present Tense: -o, -as, -a, -amos, and -am.
-er
This group comprises verbs such as “Aprender
-ir
This final group contains verbs like “Rir
The Subject Pronouns
Portuguese subject pronouns don’t vary that much from English ones. There are eight subject pronouns: “Eu” (I), “Tu” (You), “Ele” (He), “Ela” (She), “Nós” (We), “Vós”/”Vocês” (You), “Eles” (They for male or mixed groups), “Elas” (They for female groups).
Unlike Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese from Portugal doesn’t use “Você” as much. Contrarily, “Tu” (You) is the most appropriate pronoun for informal conversations. And for formal exchanges, conjugate the verbs in the third person singular (“Ele”/”Ela”), according to the person’s gender. For more of these curiosities, you will want to check out the blog post: The Portuguese Language – 10 Fascinating Curiosities (You’d Never Guess).
Portuguese Verb Conjugation: Moods and Tenses
The verb moods and tenses define how to conjugate each verb in Portuguese. Understanding their context will help you know how to use the most common European Portuguese verbs best. There are four verb moods.
The Indicative is the most common mood employed when speaking Portuguese. It indicates a fact, action, or idea that is certain, like a habit or something that will happen in the near future. The Indicative has the most verb tenses out of all other moods. For example, “Nós gostamos de ir à praia.” (We like to go to the beach.)
The Conjunctive expresses a wish or doubt that something might happen. This action is not a fact but a hypothesis. For example, “Talvez consigamos apanhar o comboio.” (We may be able to catch the train.)
The Conditional conveys a hypothetical action that depends on a specific condition to become true. For example, “Se tivermos tempo, poderemos parar para comer um gelado.” (If we have the time, we can stop for ice cream.)
Finally, the Imperative expresses orders, advice, or requests. For example, “Liga a luz, por favor.” (Please turn the light on.)
Nominal Forms
Besides the verb moods, Portuguese has three Nominal Forms:
The Infinitive is generic, expressing an idea of the action. It is usually the name by which we refer to the verb.
The Gerund indicates an action happening at this exact moment. The Brazilian Portuguese language makes wide use of this Nominal Form.
The Participle (Present and Past) describes an action completed in the past or related to it. An auxiliary verb often accompanies it.
How to Use These Portuguese Verbs in Everyday Conversations
Learning a list of Portuguese verbs is useful, but knowing how to use them in real situations is what helps you start communicating. The verbs above appear regularly in everyday conversations in Portugal, from ordering food and making plans to asking questions and talking about what you need.
Here are a few simple examples:
- Quero um café, por favor. (I want a coffee, please.)
- Preciso de ajuda. (I need help.)
- Vamos à praia amanhã? (Are we going to the beach tomorrow?)
- Gosto muito de comida portuguesa. (I really like Portuguese food.)
- Podes ajudar-me? (Can you help me?)
- Onde fica o supermercado? (Where is the supermarket?)
- Vou ligar à minha mãe. (I am going to call my mum.)
- Sabes onde fica a estação? (Do you know where the station is?)
- Eles vêm cá amanhã. (They are coming here tomorrow.)
A Simple Way to Practise Portuguese Verbs
Instead of memorising each verb on its own, try learning it as part of a short sentence. This helps you remember how the verb is actually used, including the prepositions and sentence patterns that commonly go with it.
For example, do not just memorise gostar — to like. Learn gostar de and practise it in sentences such as Gosto de música portuguesa (I like Portuguese music).
You can also choose three verbs each week and create your own sentences about your daily life. Say them out loud, listen to native speakers using the verbs, and try to use them in conversations whenever you have the opportunity.
The goal is not simply to know the Portuguese verb. It is to make it feel natural when you need to use it.
European Portuguese vs Brazilian Portuguese Verbs
Most Portuguese verbs are shared between European and Brazilian Portuguese, but some forms and structures differ.
For example, in Portugal, you will commonly hear:
- Estou a estudar. (I am studying.)
- Tu podes ajudar-me? (Can you help me?)
In Brazilian Portuguese, you are more likely to hear:
- Estou estudando. (I am studying.)
- Você pode me ajudar? (Can you help me?)
If you are learning Portuguese for Portugal, focus on European Portuguese verb forms and usage so that what you learn matches the Portuguese you will hear in everyday life.
How to Learn Portuguese Verbs
One of the aspects that most complicates Portuguese grammar is that irregular verbs are not exceptions. They are common and don’t follow any rules, so you must know them by memory.
As you learn Portuguese, you will encounter verbs that don’t follow a rule when conjugated. You will note that these irregular verbs are among the most common verbs used by native speakers.
To make them easier to remember, include them in your grammar book. You can also note down other helpful words and everyday vocabulary. Then, keep it with you when talking to Portuguese speakers.
Our exclusive European Portuguese program, The Journey, focuses on helping you learn in a fun and engaging way. Unlike other courses, it doesn’t force you to memorize boring grammar rules. Try our 7-day free trial, and let us know your thoughts!
European Portuguese, made instinctive.
Meet The Journey – a shift from studying rules to feeling the language. By wrapping pronunciation, grammar, and conversation in an engaging adventure, your brain instinctively picks up the patterns, making fluency effortless and enjoyable.
Start the Journey 1 week freeFrequently Asked Questions About Portuguese Verbs
What are the most common Portuguese verbs?
Some of the most common Portuguese verbs include ser (to be), estar (to be), ter (to have), fazer (to do/make), ir (to go), poder (to be able to), querer (to want), and saber (to know). Learning these essential verbs gives you a strong foundation for everyday Portuguese.
What are the 10 most important Portuguese verbs to learn?
For beginners, some of the most useful Portuguese verbs are ser, estar, ter, fazer, ir, vir, poder, querer, saber, and dar. These verbs appear frequently in everyday conversations and allow you to express many basic ideas.
Are Portuguese verbs difficult to learn?
Portuguese verbs can take some time to learn because they change according to the subject, tense, and mood. However, starting with the most common verbs and learning them in useful sentences makes the process much easier.
What are the three Portuguese verb groups?
Portuguese verbs are divided into three main groups according to their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. For example, falar (to speak) belongs to the -ar group, comer (to eat) to the -er group, and partir (to leave) to the -ir group.
What is the difference between European and Brazilian Portuguese verbs?
The basic Portuguese verbs are largely the same in European and Brazilian Portuguese, but some conjugations, forms of address, pronunciation, and everyday usage can differ. If you are learning Portuguese for Portugal, it is best to practise with European Portuguese examples and native speakers from Portugal.
Wrap-up on The Most Common Verbs in Portuguese
Learning Portuguese verbs and their conjugations is crucial for you to communicate effectively. One of the best techniques to learn grammar is to practice with native speakers. But besides the information shared in this post, there is much more you can explore. Sign up and send a free PDF with the Top 500 verbs straight into your inbox!
Did you enjoy this article about the most common Portuguese verbs? What has been your greatest challenge with Portuguese grammar so far? Let us know so we can approach it in a future post!
Our website, Portuguese With Carla, provides a comprehensive look into Portuguese grammar. It has a multitude of free resources you can use, from a European Portuguese podcast to our insightful blog.
