✅ The Most Common Verbs in Brazilian Portuguese (with Simple Examples)

walker8770
Jul 1
3 min read

If you're learning Brazilian Portuguese, start by learning the most commonly used verbs. They are the foundation of real conversations — from saying where you’re from to describing how you feel or what you do.

In this post, you’ll learn:

The top verbs you’ll hear and use every day
What they mean
When to use them
And simple, real-life examples

Let’s make learning verbs fun, practical, and effective! 🇧🇷✨

🔹 1. Ser – To Be (permanent)

The verb ser is used to describe who you are, what something is, or where someone is from. It's all about permanent or long-term situations.

✅ Examples:

Eu sou estudante.(I am a student.)
Ela é brasileira.(She is Brazilian.)
Nós somos amigos.(We are friends.)

👉 Use ser for:

Professions: Ele é médico. (He is a doctor.)
Origin: Somos dos Estados Unidos. (We are from the U.S.)
Personality or physical traits: Você é alto. (You are tall.)

🔹 2. Estar – To Be (temporary or location)

The verb estar is also “to be,” but it refers to temporary conditions or locations.

✅ Examples:

Eu estou cansado hoje.(I am tired today.)
Eles estão em casa.(They are at home.)
Como está você?(How are you?)

🧠 Remember:

Use ser for what something is,
Use estar for how something is.

🗣️ Practice tip: Try describing your feelings right now using estar. Example: Estou feliz! (I am happy!)

🔹 3. Ter – To Have

This verb is key! Use ter to talk about what you have, including possessions, relationships, and age.

✅ Examples:

Eu tenho um cachorro.(I have a dog.)
Ela tem dois filhos.(She has two children.)
Quantos anos você tem?(How old are you?)

💡 In Portuguese, we say “I have 25 years” → Eu tenho 25 anos.

🔹 4. Ir – To Go

Ir is essential when talking about movement, plans, and future actions.

✅ Examples:

Eu vou ao mercado.(I’m going to the market.)
Nós vamos viajar amanhã.(We are going to travel tomorrow.)
Você vai comigo?(Are you going with me?)

🚀 Bonus: Combine ir with another verb to express the future!Example: Vou estudar amanhã.→ (I will study tomorrow.)

🔹 5. Fazer – To Do / To Make

Fazer is very common and super flexible. Use it to talk about actions, tasks, and even the weather!

✅ Examples:

O que você faz?(What do you do?)
Eu faço exercícios todos os dias.(I do exercises every day.)
Está fazendo calor.(It’s hot.)

👀 Note: Fazer can also be used for time expressions, like:→ Faz dois anos que moro aqui.(I’ve lived here for two years.)

🔹 6. Poder – Can / To Be Able To

Use poder when you want to express ability or permission.

✅ Examples:

Eu posso ajudar?(Can I help?)
Você pode repetir?(Can you repeat?)
Nós podemos ir agora.(We can go now.)

🗣️ Try it now:→ Posso aprender português com você?(Can I learn Portuguese with you?) 😉

🎯 Quick Recap – Top 6 Most Used Verbs:

Verb	Meaning	Use case
Ser	To be (permanent)	Identity, nationality, profession
Estar	To be (temporary)	Feelings, location, conditions
Ter	To have	Possessions, relationships, age
Ir	To go	Movement, plans, future actions
Fazer	To do / To make	Activities, routines, time/weather
Poder	Can / To be able to	Ability, permission

📝 Practice Challenge – Try These Sentences in Portuguese:

I am happy today.
We are students.
She has a cat.
Are you going to the party?
I can speak a little Portuguese.

Write your answers in the comments or your notebook and compare with the correct forms above! 🚀 💬 Final Tip:

Learning verbs doesn't need to be boring. Start small, repeat often, and use examples from your real life. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel.

📚 Want to learn more verbs and build real Portuguese conversations?👉 Our Book 1 – Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners works exactly with these verbs, through real-life situations, simple dialogues, and practical vocabulary.

It’s the perfect companion for anyone starting to learn Brazilian Portuguese and looking for a fun, effective way to understand grammar and speak with confidence.

🎯 Start your journey today:👉 Get Book 1 on Amazon 📘