In one of my lessons, my student told me he did not know where to start when memorising words. I told him that a good way to start is to have a list of the most common Portuguese verbs, since knowing them helps a lot!
In fact, if you know the meaning of the verbs – even before you know how to conjugate them – this can help you understand conversations by context. Just give it a try and you will see!
50 Most Used Verbs In Portuguese
Following these thoughts, I decided to compile a list of the 50 most used Portuguese verbs. You will be able to find them in most interactions and if you know them, you know what people are telling you! =)
If this sounds like something you would like to do, search no more. Check the list below!
|
Portuguese Verbs |
English Translation |
| Acabar | To Finish |
| Achar | To think/ To find sth |
| Andar | To walk/ To go/ To ride |
| Apresentar | To present/ To introduce |
| Beber | To drink |
| Chamar(-se) | To call/ be called |
| Chegar | To arrive/ To be enough |
| Comer | To eat |
| Conhecer | To meet/ To know |
| Conseguir | To be able to/ Can |
| Dar | To give |
| Dizer | To say/ To tell |
| Encontrar | To meet/ To find |
| Entrar | To go in/ To enter |
| Estar | To be |
| Existir | To exist |
| Falar | To talk/ To speak |
| Fazer | To do/ To make |
| Ficar | To stay/ To remain/ To become |
| Haver | There to be |
| Ir | To go |
| Levar | To take |
| Morar | To live |
| Olhar | To look |
| Ouvir | To listen |
| Parecer | To seem |
| Passar | To pass (by) |
| Pedir | To ask for/ To request |
| Pensar | To think |
| Perder | To lose/ To miss |
| Poder | To be allowed to/ can |
| Pôr | To put |
| Querer | To want |
| Receber | To receive |
| Saber | To know |
| Sair | To go out/ To leave |
| Sentir | To feel |
| Ser | To be |
| Ter | To have |
| Tomar | To take/ To have |
| Tornar-se | To become |
| Trabalhar | To work |
| Ver | To see/ To watch |
| Vir | To come |
| Viver | To live |
| Voltar | To come back/ To return |
These 50 verbs should help you to eventually become an expert of European Portuguese. If you know them, you will at least be able to get conversations by context, I think. After knowing their meaning, all you have left to do is start to learn their conjugations.
Start by understanding how to build the Present tense and the Perfect and Imperfect tenses. After you have learnt the rules for the regular verbs in Portuguese, you should also try to tackle some of the irregular Portuguese verbs that are on this list. In some previous posts, you can find the conjugations of the following verbs: haver, dizer e fazer, ter e dar, ir e vir.
I hope that you enjoy studying all of them. Think of grammar like a game and you may find yourself liking it! I sure do (nerd alert!).
If you don’t know how to conjugate the verbs yet, make sure to check out my European Portuguese Master Course. You will learn all about this topic and much more.. 🙂
Your Task For Today:
How is your experience with the verbs and conjugations in Portuguese? Do you find it easy or difficult? Do you have a specific way of studying them that works for you?
Let us know all about it in the comments section below. Maybe your input can help someone else.
See you soon!
Beijinhos,
Mia.
does the word pedir conjugate as: pedo, pedes, pede, pedimos, pedem?
Olá 🙂
Almost! The first person is a little bit irregular…
The verb conjugates as:
Peço, pedes, pede, pedimos, pedem.
I hope this helps 🙂
Beijinhos,
Mia
Say “eu pedo” and people might think about calling the police
A great list Mia and really helpful, along with your courses and wonderful YouTube resources!
I cannot find a verb book in European Portuguese. When I learned Italian there were a few books, that helped learn through making sentences in context.
For example, I don’t understand how to make sentences in the Portuguese version of passato prossimo, imperfetto, passato remoto, trapassato: verbi di tempi. Is there a resource that would help me?
Muito obrigado!
Olá Ian 🙂
I am glad you are enjoying my courses and content. 🙂 Thank you for your feedback!
About the book. The books I know do that, but they are not just focussed on verbs. Rather, they have a lot of grammar on them, among it verbs.
You can maybe try the Gramática Aplicada. You can check about that Grammar book and many other books in following article I wrote:
https://learn-portuguese.org/best-books-for-learning-portuguese
You can also check it out in this Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H68tCIW_g_A&t=792s&ab_channel=MiaEsmerizAcademy
Be aware that if you are in Portugal (or even if you check a bit further around on Amazon) you can find the same books for much cheaper. If you have no more options, then maybe this is the way to go…
Please let me know if you can find these books and if they help you in any way. If you have any further questions, also please let me know 🙂
Beijinhos,
Mia
OLA, DEAR AMIGA, BOM DIA,
YOU’RE AWESOME E THE BEST TO ME.
KEEP ON GOING WITH TEACHING US.
WITH BLESSINGS.
NURE ALAM.
BANGLADESH + PORTUGAL.
Obrigada =)
Great list to start from, thank you, Mia!
Thank you Derek!
I am glad you like it 😉
Beijinhos,
Mia.
Hi Mia,
Thank you very much for gathering words which are helpful for conversation. The relevant links to study Present, Prefeito, e Imprefeito verbs together with your good explanations, especially in the csae of the difference between Pefeito and Imprefeiito verbs, were very useful. Honestly, it is so difficult to memorise them, in addition, it is so harsh to learn without practicing conversation with two/three persons.
Anyway, it will be so helpful if you could put some records of the relevant conversations of your students.
Thanks again for posting your materials to teach Portuguese.
Hi Houshyar! I am glad that you found the article helpful!
I have thought about adding records like that, and I shall be looking into it in the future if all goes well.
Just keep tuned!
Kind regards,
Mia