Portuguese Present-Tense Verb Conjugation for Beginners
Regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs follow predictable patterns. Learn the three patterns and you can conjugate hundreds of verbs on sight.
Portuguese verbs look intimidating because of all the endings, but the present tense is far more systematic than it first appears. Regular verbs fall into just three families based on their infinitive ending — -ar, -er, and -ir — and once you know the pattern for each family, you can conjugate the vast majority of verbs you'll ever encounter.
This guide covers the three regular patterns plus the handful of irregular verbs you'll use so often they're worth memorizing individually.
Key Takeaways
- Three verb families cover most regular verbs: -ar (falar), -er (comer), -ir (partir) — each has its own predictable ending pattern.
- The endings change by person, not by verb. Once you know the -ar pattern, it applies to hundreds of different -ar verbs.
- A handful of irregular verbs are used constantly — ser, estar, ter, ir, and fazer are worth memorizing on their own, ahead of the regular patterns.
- Brazilian and European Portuguese conjugate identically — this is one area where the two dialects don't diverge at all.
The Three Regular Verb Families
| Pronoun | -ar (falar, to speak) | -er (comer, to eat) | -ir (partir, to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu (I) | falo | como | parto |
| você/ele/ela (you/he/she) | fala | come | parte |
| nós (we) | falamos | comemos | partimos |
| eles/elas (they) | falam | comem | partem |
| vocês (you-pl) | falam | comem | partem |
The Irregular Verbs Worth Memorizing First
These five verbs are used so constantly — often as helper verbs alongside other verbs — that it's worth learning them by heart before you've fully mastered the regular patterns.
| Verb | Meaning | eu / você / nós / eles |
|---|---|---|
| ser | to be (permanent) | sou / é / somos / são |
| estar | to be (temporary/location) | estou / está / estamos / estão |
| ter | to have | tenho / tem / temos / têm |
| ir | to go | vou / vai / vamos / vão |
| fazer | to do/make | faço / faz / fazemos / fazem |
A Practice Strategy That Actually Works
Don't try to memorize conjugation tables in isolation. Instead, pick five sentences you say constantly in English — "I want," "I need," "I'm going to," "I like" — and build the Portuguese equivalents using the verbs above. Real, repeated sentences stick far better than abstract tables, and you'll naturally absorb the pattern through use.
Get the Present-Tense Verb Conjugation Charts
A printable worksheet covering all three regular verb families plus the essential irregular verbs — free from the Resource Center.
Download the ChartsBrowse All Free ResourcesConjugation tables teach the pattern. Speaking out loud makes it automatic.
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