How to Use “Derrubar” in Portuguese for Knocking Something Down

Introduction

Learning how to use derrubar in Brazilian Portuguese helps you describe physically knocking something down, making mistakes, or causing a plan to fail. This article explains meanings, conjugation patterns, common sentence structures, collocations, and cultural notes so beginner to intermediate learners can use derrubar naturally and accurately.

What does derrubar mean?

Derrubar is a transitive verb primarily meaning to cause something to fall or to knock something down. It combines the prefix der- with the verb curvar or related roots, carrying a sense of bringing something from an upright or stable position to a lower one. Beyond physical actions, derrubar is often used metaphorically to talk about defeating arguments, canceling plans, or bringing down systems or ideas.

Basic senses and examples

Physical: to knock down an object or a structure.

Figurative: to defeat, to overthrow, to cancel, or to cause to fail.

Examples:

O vento derrubou a árvore no quintal.

A crítica derrubou o projeto do diretor.

Conjugation patterns and regularity

Derrubar is a regular -ar verb. That means its stem derrub- keeps the same consonants and vowels, and you add the standard -ar endings. Regular verbs are easier for learners because once you know the endings, you can form tenses reliably.

Present tense (presente do indicativo)

Use the present to describe habitual actions or things happening now.

Eu derrubo

Tu derrubas

Ele/ela/você derruba

Nós derrubamos

Vós derrubais (rare, mostly formal)

Eles/elas/vocês derrubam

Example: Eu derrubo sempre as latas quando jogo a bola no quintal.

Past simple (pretérito perfeito)

Use this to report completed actions in the past.

Eu derrubei

Tu derrubaste

Ele/ela/você derrubou

Nós derrubamos

Vós derrubastes

Eles/elas/vocês derrubaram

Example: Ontem, ele derrubou o vaso e quebrou tudo.

Imperfect past (pretérito imperfeito)

This describes ongoing or repeated past actions.

Eu derrubava

Tu derrubavas

Ele/ela/você derrubava

Nós derrubávamos

Vós derrubáveis

Eles/elas/vocês derrubavam

Example: Quando eu era criança, derrubava as peças do jogo com frequência.

Future forms and conditional

Futuro do presente: Eu derrubarei (I will knock down).

Futuro do pretérito / conditional: Eu derrubaria (I would knock down).

These are used for plans, predictions, or hypothetical situations.

Example: Se eu empurrar aquela pilha, vou derrubar tudo.

Reflexive and passive uses

Derrubar can be used in reflexive or passive constructions to change focus from the agent to the result.

Reflexive style (se + verb)

Use se to indicate that something fell by itself or to de-emphasize the agent.

A árvore se derrubou durante a tempestade.

Posteriormente, you can place the agent in a por phrase: A árvore se derrubou por causa do vento.

Passive voice and passive pronominal

To say that something was knocked down by someone, use the passive with ser or the passive pronominal with se.

O muro foi derrubado pelo caminhão. (passiva com ser)

O muro se derrubou com o impacto. (passiva pronominal / result-focused)

Common collocations and verbs that pair with derrubar

Learning verbs and nouns that commonly appear with derrubar helps you use it naturally.

Common objects

árvore, muro, vaso, estante, latas, bonecos, garrafas, cartas de baralho

Example: Ela derrubou as garrafas da prateleira.

Actions that cause derrubar

empurrar (to push), bater (to hit), cortar (to cut), soprar (to blow), explodir (to explode—use cautiously in conversation and context)

Example: O vento soprou tão forte que derrubou as placas na estrada.

Figurative collocations

derrubar um argumento, derrubar um projeto, derrubar a reputação, derrubar um juiz (meaning to remove from position)

Example: A reportagem derrubou a credibilidade do político.

Sentence structures with derrubar

Knowing how to place objects, adverbs, and agents makes your sentences clear and natural.

Basic transitive sentence

Subject + derrubar + direct object

Example: O menino derrubou o vaso.

With indirect agent or cause

Subject + derrubar + object + por/por causa de + agent/cause

Exemplo: O carro derrubou a placa por causa do acidente.

With reflexive / passive pronominal

Object + se + derrubar + (por + agent) or + com + cause

Example: A estante se derrubou com o impacto do tremor.

Questions and negatives

To form a question, invert subject and verb or use intonation. For negative, place não before the verb.

Example question: Quem derrubou a garrafa?

Negative: Eu não derrubei nada na festa.

Subtle meaning changes and register

Derrubar is versatile and its meaning can shift slightly by context, tone, or accompanying words.

Physical vs. intentional

If you say Eu derrubei, it could mean you accidentally knocked something down or you did it on purpose. Add adverbs to clarify intention.

Eu derrubei acidentalmente a xícara. (accident)

Eu derrubei a xícara de propósito. (on purpose)

Formality

In formal writing or news, passive constructions with foi derrubado are common. In informal conversation, people often use se derrubou or direct active forms.

News: O projeto foi derrubado pelo congresso.

Informal: Eles derrubaram o projeto ontem.

Negative and emphatic forms

Negation is straightforward: place não before the verb. For emphasis, you can use adverbs or pronouns.

Eu não derrubei a planta.

Foi ele mesmo quem derrubou a planta. (emphasis on who did it)

Using pronouns with derrubar

Direct object pronouns attach before or after the verb depending on tense and formality.

Ele a derrubou. (past, direct object pronoun before in formal writing: actually in Portuguese the pronoun normally goes before or after? Clarify: In Brazilian Portuguese, clitic placement tends to be proclitic with não/subject, but in simple past, object pronouns usually come before the verb in written European Portuguese; in Brazilian, enclisis is common in present affirmative. To keep examples natural:)

Eu derrubei-o is formal/rare. Better: Eu a derrubei. / Ele derrubou-a isn’t common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. Instead, speakers usually use subject + verb + object or substitute with o/a at end in informal speech: Ele derrubou ela. Use caution: Standard written: Ele a derrubou. Spoken: Ele derrubou ela.

Examples in everyday contexts

Examples help you see derrubar in real life Brazilian Portuguese situations. Each example contains simple vocabulary appropriate for beginner to intermediate learners.

Casa e objetos

A criança derrubou o copo no chão.
O vento derrubou a cerca durante a noite.

Trabalho e projetos

As críticas derrubaram a proposta inicial da equipe.
O atraso derrubou o cronograma inteiro.

Esportes e competições

O atacante derrubou o zagueiro dentro da área e o juiz marcou pênalti.
O time adversário derrubou o recorde do campeonato.

Cenas cotidianas e desabafos

Ai, eu derrubei meu celular de novo.
Não derrube a caixa, por favor.

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are frequent errors learners make and how to correct them.

Using the wrong preposition

When indicating the agent in a passive sentence, use por rather than de. Incorrect: O quadro foi derrubado de João. Correct: O quadro foi derrubado por João.

Confusing reflexive and active voice

Some learners overuse se and end up making sentences awkward. Compare: Ele derrubou a árvore (active) versus A árvore se derrubou (reflexive/passive). Use se when the action is impersonal or the focus is on the result.

Overusing direct object pronouns in spoken Brazilian Portuguese

Spoken Brazilian Portuguese often uses full nouns instead of clitic pronouns in casual talk. Instead of Ele a derrubou, you will often hear Ele derrubou ela. Both are understood, but the latter is more natural in speech.

Regional and cultural usage notes

Brazilian Portuguese speakers use derrubar across all regions, but some collocations and preferences change locally. In urban areas, you might hear more figurative uses related to politics, media, and sports. In rural areas, physical uses like derrubar árvores or derrubar cercas are common.

Cultural tip: When talking about the news or politics, saying que algo foi derrubado can imply a significant change, like a law or a major project being canceled. Use this metaphor carefully and be aware of context.

Quick reference: key forms

Present: eu derrubo / pretérito perfeito: eu derrubei / infinitive: derrubar / gerund: derrubando / past participle: derrubado

Note: Use derrubado to form perfect tenses with ter or ser (Tenho derrubado is less common; Foi derrubado is common for passive statements).

Conclusion

Mastering derrubar will make your Portuguese more expressive in both physical and figurative contexts. Remember it is a regular -ar verb, learn the common collocations, and pay attention to voice (active, reflexive, passive) to convey the right meaning. With practice in everyday sentences like Eu derrubei o copo or A árvore se derrubou, you will quickly gain confidence using derrubar naturally.