Portuguese Irregular Verbs: A Complete Overview

Introduction

Learning Portuguese irregular verbs can feel challenging at first, but mastering them is essential for achieving fluency. Unlike regular verbs that follow predictable conjugation patterns, irregular verbs change in unexpected ways across different tenses and moods. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most important irregular verbs in Portuguese, their conjugation patterns, and practical tips to help you use them confidently in everyday conversation.

Understanding Portuguese Verb Irregularities

Portuguese verbs are traditionally divided into three conjugation groups based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. While regular verbs follow consistent patterns within their groups, irregular verbs deviate from these norms in various ways. Some verbs are irregular only in certain tenses, while others display irregularities throughout their entire conjugation paradigm.

The concept of irregularity in Portuguese verbs encompasses several types of changes. These include stem changes, where the root of the verb transforms; ending modifications that don’t follow standard patterns; and completely unique forms that must be memorized individually. Understanding these categories will help you approach irregular verbs more systematically.

The Most Common Irregular Verbs

Ser and Estar: The Two Forms of To Be

Perhaps the most fundamental irregular verbs in Portuguese are ser and estar, both meaning to be. However, they serve different purposes and cannot be used interchangeably. The verb ser describes permanent or inherent qualities, professions, origins, and times, while estar indicates temporary states, locations, and conditions.

In the present tense, ser conjugates as: eu sou, você/ele/ela é, nós somos, vocês/eles/elas são. Notice how none of these forms resemble the infinitive. Meanwhile, estar follows: eu estou, você/ele/ela está, nós estamos, vocês/eles/elas estão. Both verbs show significant irregularities in the preterite tense as well, with ser becoming: eu fui, você/ele/ela foi, nós fomos, vocês/eles/elas foram.

A practical example demonstrates the difference: Eu sou professor means I am a teacher, describing a profession, while Eu estou cansado means I am tired, describing a temporary state. This distinction is crucial for natural-sounding Portuguese.

Ter and Haver: Expressing Possession and Existence

Ter primarily means to have and is one of the most frequently used verbs in Portuguese. Its present tense conjugation displays clear irregularities: eu tenho, você/ele/ela tem, nós temos, vocês/eles/elas têm. The first and third person singular forms particularly deviate from regular patterns.

In compound tenses, ter serves as the auxiliary verb, similar to have in English. For instance, Eu tenho estudado muito means I have been studying a lot. The verb also appears in countless idiomatic expressions like ter certeza (to be sure) and ter medo (to be afraid).

Haver, meaning to have or there is/are, functions primarily in impersonal constructions. The most common form is há, used for both singular and plural: Há um livro na mesa (There is a book on the table) and Há muitos livros na biblioteca (There are many books in the library). While haver is irregular, native speakers predominantly use ter in conversational contexts.

Ir and Vir: Going and Coming

The verbs ir (to go) and vir (to come) are essential for expressing movement and show extensive irregularities. The present tense of ir is: eu vou, você/ele/ela vai, nós vamos, vocês/eles/elas vão. These forms bear no resemblance to the infinitive, making them purely irregular.

The verb ir also serves a crucial grammatical function as the auxiliary verb for the immediate future tense. When followed by an infinitive, it creates constructions like Eu vou estudar amanhã (I am going to study tomorrow). This periphrastic future is more common in Brazilian Portuguese than the simple future tense.

Meanwhile, vir conjugates as: eu venho, você/ele/ela vem, nós vimos, vocês/eles/elas vêm in the present tense. Notice the accent difference in the third person plural, which distinguishes it from the first person plural preterite form. A typical usage would be: Eles vêm aqui toda semana (They come here every week).

Irregular Verbs in Different Tenses

Present Tense Irregularities

Many Portuguese verbs show irregularities specifically in the present tense, often involving stem changes. The verb fazer (to do/make) demonstrates this pattern: eu faço, você/ele/ela faz, nós fazemos, vocês/eles/elas fazem. The first person singular form adds a cedilla, while the third person singular drops the -e- from the stem entirely.

Another common pattern appears in verbs like dizer (to say/tell): eu digo, você/ele/ela diz, nós dizemos, vocês/eles/elas dizem. The first person singular changes the stem vowel, and the third person singular shortens dramatically. Similar patterns occur in trazer (to bring): eu trago, você/ele/ela traz, nós trazemos, vocês/eles/elas trazem.

Verbs ending in -air, like sair (to leave/go out), follow their own irregular pattern: eu saio, você/ele/ela sai, nós saímos, vocês/eles/elas saem. The accent marks shift throughout the conjugation, and the diphthong changes in certain forms. Other verbs in this category include cair (to fall) and atrair (to attract).

Preterite Tense Challenges

The preterite tense, used for completed past actions, presents numerous irregular forms. The verb poder (to be able to/can) becomes: eu pude, você/ele/ela pôde, nós pudemos, vocês/eles/elas puderam. The stem changes completely from pod- to pud-, and the stress patterns shift as well.

Similarly, pôr (to put/place) conjugates as: eu pus, você/ele/ela pôs, nós pusemos, vocês/eles/elas puseram. This verb is particularly irregular because its infinitive form itself is irregular, being the only verb in Portuguese that doesn’t end in -r preceded by a vowel.

The verb querer (to want) shows dramatic changes in the preterite: eu quis, você/ele/ela quis, nós quisemos, vocês/eles/elas quiseram. The stem shifts from quer- to quis-, and these forms must be memorized as they don’t follow predictable patterns. An example sentence would be: Eu quis ajudar, mas não consegui (I wanted to help, but I couldn’t).

Imperfect Tense: The Exception to the Rule

Interestingly, the imperfect tense is one of the most regular in Portuguese, with only four truly irregular verbs. These are ser, which becomes: eu era, você/ele/ela era, nós éramos, vocês/eles/elas eram; ter, conjugated as: eu tinha, você/ele/ela tinha, nós tínhamos, vocês/eles/elas tinham; vir: eu vinha, você/ele/ela vinha, nós vínhamos, vocês/eles/elas vinham; and pôr: eu punha, você/ele/ela punha, nós púnhamos, vocês/eles/elas punham.

This relative regularity in the imperfect tense provides learners with a respite from memorization. The imperfect describes habitual past actions or ongoing states, as in: Quando eu era criança, tinha muitos amigos (When I was a child, I had many friends).

Stem-Changing Irregular Verbs

First Person Singular Variations

A common irregularity pattern affects only the first person singular in the present tense. Verbs like ouvir (to hear) change to eu ouço while maintaining regular forms elsewhere: você/ele/ela ouve, nós ouvimos, vocês/eles/elas ouvem. This pattern creates a phonetic distinction that prevents awkward sound combinations.

The verb pedir (to ask for/request) follows a similar pattern: eu peço, você/ele/ela pede, nós pedimos, vocês/eles/elas pedem. Other verbs in this category include medir (to measure), which becomes eu meço, and seguir (to follow), which becomes eu sigo. These changes maintain pronunciation consistency across the language.

Understanding this pattern helps you predict irregularities in related verbs. For example, despedir (to fire/dismiss) follows the same pattern as pedir, becoming eu despeço in the first person singular. Recognizing verb families accelerates your learning process significantly.

Vowel Alternation Patterns

Some irregular verbs display vowel alternations in their stems across different conjugations. The verb dormir (to sleep) demonstrates this: eu durmo, você/ele/ela dorme, nós dormimos, vocês/eles/elas dormem. The stem vowel changes from o to u in the first person singular, creating a phonetically smoother form.

Similarly, cobrir (to cover) follows: eu cubro, você/ele/ela cobre, nós cobrimos, vocês/eles/elas cobrem. This o-to-u alternation appears in several verbs and represents a historical linguistic development in Portuguese. Other examples include descobrir (to discover) and encobrir (to conceal).

The verb subir (to go up/climb) maintains its stem throughout: eu subo, você/ele/ela sobe, nós subimos, vocês/eles/elas sobem, but shares the same conjugation family. Paying attention to these patterns helps you group similar verbs together mentally, making them easier to recall.

Compound Irregular Verbs

Derivatives of Irregular Verbs

Many compound verbs in Portuguese are formed by adding prefixes to base irregular verbs, and they typically inherit the irregularities of their root forms. Understanding this principle dramatically expands your vocabulary with minimal additional memorization.

For instance, since fazer is irregular, so are its derivatives: refazer (to redo/remake), desfazer (to undo), satisfazer (to satisfy), and perfazer (to complete). Each follows the same irregular pattern as the base verb: eu refaço, eu desfaço, eu satisfaço, eu perfaço.

Similarly, pôr spawns numerous compounds: compor (to compose), dispor (to arrange), expor (to expose), propor (to propose), and supor (to suppose). All conjugate irregularly like their parent verb: eu componho, eu disponho, eu exponho, eu proponho, eu suponho. This pattern extends through all tenses and moods.

Common Compound Verbs in Daily Use

The verb ter forms several essential compounds. Conter (to contain) conjugates as: eu contenho, você/ele/ela contém, nós contemos, vocês/eles/elas contêm. Similarly, manter (to maintain/keep) follows: eu mantenho, você/ele/ela mantém, nós mantemos, vocês/eles/elas mantêm. These compounds appear frequently in both written and spoken Portuguese.

Other important ter derivatives include obter (to obtain): eu obtenho, você/ele/ela obtém, and deter (to detain/stop): eu detenho, você/ele/ela detém. Learning the base verb thoroughly allows you to confidently use all its derivatives without extensive additional study.

From vir come compounds like convir (to be suitable/convenient), intervir (to intervene), and provir (to come from/originate). Each maintains the irregularities: eu convenho, eu intervenho, eu provenho. A practical example: Este horário convém para todos? (Does this time suit everyone?)

Modal and Auxiliary Irregular Verbs

Poder, Querer, and Dever

Modal verbs express possibility, desire, or obligation and are among the most frequently used in Portuguese. Poder indicates ability or permission and conjugates irregularly in the present: eu posso, você/ele/ela pode, nós podemos, vocês/eles/elas podem. When used with infinitives, it creates constructions like Eu posso falar português (I can speak Portuguese).

Querer expresses desire or will and shows irregularities in several tenses. The present tense follows: eu quero, você/ele/ela quer, nós queremos, vocês/eles/elas querem. This verb appears constantly in polite requests: Eu queria um café, por favor (I would like a coffee, please), using the imperfect for politeness.

Dever (to owe/must/should) maintains relative regularity in the present: eu devo, você/ele/ela deve, nós devemos, vocês/eles/elas devem, but shows irregularities in other tenses. It expresses obligation or probability: Ele deve chegar às cinco (He should arrive at five). Understanding these modals is crucial for expressing nuanced meanings.

Saber and Conhecer: Two Types of Knowing

Saber (to know facts/how to do something) is irregular in the present tense: eu sei, você/ele/ela sabe, nós sabemos, vocês/eles/elas sabem. This verb indicates knowledge of information or skills: Eu sei nadar (I know how to swim) or Você sabe onde fica o banco? (Do you know where the bank is?)

Conhecer (to know/be familiar with people or places) follows a similar pattern with a first person irregularity: eu conheço, você/ele/ela conhece, nós conhecemos, vocês/eles/elas conhecem. The distinction between saber and conhecer is important: Eu conheço São Paulo means I am familiar with São Paulo, while Eu sei sobre São Paulo means I know about São Paulo from information.

Subjunctive Mood Irregularities

Present Subjunctive Forms

The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, wishes, emotions, and hypothetical situations. Many irregular verbs maintain their irregularities in this mood. The present subjunctive of ser is: que eu seja, que você/ele/ela seja, que nós sejamos, que vocês/eles/elas sejam. This appears in expressions like Espero que você seja feliz (I hope you are happy).

For estar, the forms are: que eu esteja, que você/ele/ela esteja, que nós estejamos, que vocês/eles/elas estejam. A typical use: Talvez ele esteja em casa (Maybe he is at home). The subjunctive signals uncertainty, distinguishing it from the indicative.

The verb dar (to give) becomes highly irregular in the present subjunctive: que eu dê, que você/ele/ela dê, que nós demos, que vocês/eles/elas deem. Similarly, ir transforms to: que eu vá, que você/ele/ela vá, que nós vamos, que vocês/eles/elas vão. These forms appear frequently after conjunctions like embora (although), caso (in case), and quando (when) expressing future uncertainty.

Imperfect Subjunctive Patterns

The imperfect subjunctive, used in conditional sentences and past contexts requiring the subjunctive, derives from the third person plural preterite. For ser and ir, both become: se eu fosse, se você/ele/ela fosse, se nós fôssemos, se vocês/eles/elas fossem. This creates conditional sentences like Se eu fosse rico, viajaria muito (If I were rich, I would travel a lot).

For ter, the forms are: se eu tivesse, se você/ele/ela tivesse, se nós tivéssemos, se vocês/eles/elas tivessem. This appears in contrary-to-fact statements: Se eu tivesse tempo, estudaria mais (If I had time, I would study more). The imperfect subjunctive paired with the conditional creates hypothetical scenarios.

Future and Conditional Tense Irregularities

Simple Future Irregular Forms

While the simple future tense is relatively regular for most verbs, three important verbs show irregularities. Dizer becomes: eu direi, você/ele/ela dirá, nós diremos, vocês/eles/elas dirão, dropping the -ze- from the stem. An example: Eu lhe direi a verdade amanhã (I will tell you the truth tomorrow).

Fazer follows a similar pattern: eu farei, você/ele/ela fará, nós faremos, vocês/eles/elas farão. The -ze- disappears here as well. Usage example: Nós faremos a reunião na quinta-feira (We will hold the meeting on Thursday).

Trazer becomes: eu trarei, você/ele/ela trará, nós traremos, vocês/eles/elas trarão. Again, the -ze- drops from the infinitive stem. These three verbs are the primary exceptions to future tense regularity, making them important to memorize.

Conditional Tense Irregularities

The conditional tense, expressing hypothetical actions or polite requests, shows the same irregular stems as the simple future. For dizer: eu diria, você/ele/ela diria, nós diríamos, vocês/eles/elas diriam. This creates polite statements like Eu diria que ele está certo (I would say he is right).

Similarly, fazer conjugates as: eu faria, você/ele/ela faria, nós faríamos, vocês/eles/elas fariam, and trazer as: eu traria, você/ele/ela traria, nós traríamos, vocês/eles/elas trariam. The conditional appears frequently in polite conversation and hypothetical situations.

Practical Strategies for Learning Irregular Verbs

Grouping by Pattern

Rather than memorizing each irregular verb in isolation, organize them into pattern groups. Verbs with similar irregularities can be learned together, leveraging your brain’s natural pattern-recognition abilities. For example, group all verbs that add a cedilla in the first person present, or all verbs that change o to u in the stem.

Create mental categories for irregular preterites, subjunctives, and other challenging forms. When you encounter a new irregular verb, immediately ask yourself: Does this remind me of another verb I know? Building these connections strengthens retention and makes recall faster.

Frequency-Based Learning

Focus your initial efforts on the most frequently used irregular verbs. Verbs like ser, estar, ter, ir, fazer, poder, and querer appear in virtually every conversation. Mastering these high-frequency verbs provides immediate practical benefits and builds confidence.

As you progress, gradually incorporate less common irregular verbs. Track which verbs you encounter most often in your reading and listening practice, prioritizing those in your study routine. This targeted approach ensures efficient use of your study time.

Contextual Practice

Learning verb forms in isolation has limited effectiveness. Instead, practice irregular verbs within complete sentences and realistic contexts. Create example sentences for each new verb form you learn, preferably relating to your own life or interests. Personal relevance dramatically improves retention.

Engage with authentic Portuguese materials like podcasts, videos, articles, and conversations. Notice how native speakers use irregular verbs naturally in context. This exposure reinforces correct usage patterns and helps you internalize the rhythms of the language.

Regular Review and Spaced Repetition

Irregular verbs require ongoing review to move from short-term to long-term memory. Implement a spaced repetition system, reviewing verbs at gradually increasing intervals. Digital flashcard applications can automate this process, but traditional handwritten cards work equally well.

Don’t just review forms mechanically. Regularly produce original sentences using the verbs you’re studying. Active production, rather than passive recognition, solidifies your command of irregular forms and prepares you for real communication.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Overgeneralizing Regular Patterns

A frequent error among learners is applying regular conjugation patterns to irregular verbs. For instance, saying eu podo instead of eu posso, or ele faze instead of ele faz. These mistakes occur naturally as your brain seeks patterns, but they can fossilize if not corrected early.

Combat this tendency through conscious attention during practice. When using an irregular verb, pause momentarily to recall its correct form. Self-correction before speaking or writing reinforces accurate patterns. Over time, correct forms will become automatic.

Confusing Similar Irregular Verbs

Some irregular verbs have similar meanings or forms, leading to confusion. The pair ser and estar challenges even advanced learners, as do saber and conhecer. Taking time to understand the distinct uses of each verb prevents persistent errors.

Create clear mental distinctions through examples and rules. For ser versus estar, remember that ser describes essence while estar describes state. For saber versus conhecer, saber applies to facts and skills, while conhecer applies to familiarity with people and places.

Neglecting Less Common Forms

Learners often master present and preterite forms while neglecting the subjunctive or future tenses. This creates gaps that emerge in more advanced contexts. While focusing on common forms initially makes sense, eventually you need comprehensive knowledge of all forms.

Gradually expand your mastery to include all tenses and moods. Once comfortable with present tense irregularities, systematically work through past tenses, then future and conditional, and finally subjunctive forms. Comprehensive knowledge enables full expression in Portuguese.

Cultural Notes on Verb Usage

Regional Variations

Brazilian Portuguese differs from European Portuguese in several verb usage patterns. Brazilian speakers favor the periphrastic future with ir plus infinitive over the simple future tense. They also use different pronouns, which affects conjugation choices. Saying você vai fazer instead of tu farás reflects Brazilian norms.

Additionally, Brazilian Portuguese employs estar plus gerund for progressive actions: Eu estou estudando (I am studying). European Portuguese typically uses estar plus a plus infinitive: Eu estou a estudar. Understanding these differences prevents confusion when encountering different Portuguese varieties.

Formality Levels

Verb choice and conjugation convey social register in Portuguese. Using the conditional tense creates politeness, as in Você poderia me ajudar? (Could you help me?) versus Você pode me ajudar? (Can you help me?). The former sounds considerably more polite and formal.

The verb querer in the imperfect, Eu queria um café, sounds more courteous than the present tense Eu quero um café. These subtle distinctions matter in social interactions and professional contexts. Observing how native speakers modulate formality through verb forms enriches your cultural competence.

Advanced Irregular Verb Challenges

Verbs with Multiple Irregularities

Some verbs display irregularities across multiple tenses and moods, requiring special attention. The verb vir demonstrates extensive irregularity in present (eu venho), preterite (eu vim), imperfect (eu vinha), present subjunctive (que eu venha), and other forms. These comprehensive irregularities make such verbs particularly challenging.

Similarly, pôr and its compounds show irregularities throughout their paradigms. Dedicating focused study to these highly irregular verbs pays dividends, as they appear frequently and mastering them significantly improves your fluency.

Recognizing Historical Patterns

Many Portuguese irregularities trace back to Latin verb forms and historical sound changes. While you don’t need to study historical linguistics formally, understanding that irregularities aren’t random can make them feel less arbitrary. The verb forms evolved over centuries following phonetic principles.

For instance, the transformation of Latin facere into Portuguese fazer, with its irregular forms, reflects systematic sound changes. Recognizing that irregularities follow historical logic, even if complex, can reduce frustration and increase appreciation for the language’s depth.

Conclusion

Mastering Portuguese irregular verbs represents a significant milestone in your language learning journey. While they require dedicated study and practice, understanding their patterns makes them far more manageable than they initially appear. Focus on high-frequency verbs first, organize irregularities by pattern, and practice consistently in context. Remember that even native speakers learned these forms gradually through extensive exposure and use. With patience and systematic practice, irregular verbs will become natural components of your Portuguese expression, enabling you to communicate with greater accuracy and confidence in any situation.