Introduction
This article explains how to use the verb ir to talk about going places in Brazilian Portuguese. You will learn conjugations, common phrases, prepositions that pair with ir, and practical examples for real situations like catching transport, meeting friends, and asking directions. Everything is kept simple for complete beginners.
- Why ir is important
- Basic conjugation in the present tense
- Using ir to say where you are going
- Ir + infinitive for near future plans
- Practical phrases for travel and everyday movement
- Common directions and place vocabulary
- Negative and questions with ir
- Common mistakes beginners make
- Short practice exercises for beginners
- Quick reference: Most useful ir phrases for beginners
- Conclusion
Why ir is important
Ir is one of the most frequently used verbs in any language because people move from place to place. In Portuguese, ir covers going to locations, future intentions with ir + infinitive, and some idiomatic expressions. Learning ir early gives you tools to say where you are going, ask others about plans, and understand signs and schedules.
Basic conjugation in the present tense
To talk about going somewhere now or in the near future, use the present tense. Here are the core forms you will need to recognize and use.
eu vou — I go / I am going
você vai — you go / you are going (formal or general you)
ele vai — he goes / he is going
ela vai — she goes / she is going
a gente vai — we go / we are going (colloquial, very common)
nós vamos — we go / we are going (formal)
vocês vão — you all go / you are going
eles vão — they go (masculine or mixed)
elas vão — they go (feminine)
Using ir to say where you are going
After ir, you usually add the preposition para or a depending on context. For many destinations, para is common. For cities, states and some places, a is used.
Examples:
Eu vou para a escola. — I am going to the school.
Eu vou ao mercado. — I am going to the market. (ao = a + o)
Ela vai ao banco. — She is going to the bank.
Nós vamos à praia. — We are going to the beach. (à = a + a)
Prepositions: para, a, em
para expresses direction or purpose and is similar to English to or for when showing destination or intention.
Eu vou para o trabalho. — I go to work.
a is used before feminine places or names of cities when indicating movement toward the place.
Vou a São Paulo amanhã. — I am going to São Paulo tomorrow.
em with movement often uses the contraction para + em less; but em signals being in or on a place rather than movement toward it.
Estou em casa. — I am at home.
Ir + infinitive for near future plans
A very common structure is ir + infinitive to express future actions, similar to English going to + verb. This is used for plans or intentions.
Example structure: Hoje eu vou estudar. — Today I am going to study.
Common infinitives with ir:
ir + comer: Eu vou comer agora. — I am going to eat now.
ir + sair: Você vai sair à noite? — Are you going to go out at night?
ir + trabalhar: Eles vão trabalhar amanhã cedo. — They are going to work early tomorrow.
Practical phrases for travel and everyday movement
These phrases are useful when navigating Brazilian cities, asking for directions, or buying tickets.
Onde fica o banheiro? — Where is the bathroom?
Eu vou pegar o ônibus. — I am going to take the bus.
Como eu chego na estação? — How do I get to the station?
Vou descer na próxima parada. — I will get off at the next stop.
Ele vai pegar um táxi. — He is going to take a taxi.
Using ir for appointments and meetings
When arranging meetings or appointments, ir combined with a time phrase is very natural.
Você vai à festa hoje? — Are you going to the party today?
Eu vou ao médico às três. — I am going to the doctor at three.
A gente vai se encontrar no shopping. — We are going to meet at the mall.
Common directions and place vocabulary
Here are beginner-friendly location words you will see in conversation and signs. Learn the nouns with the article as in Portuguese the article affects contractions with a and para.
o banco — the bank
a estação — the station
a farmácia — the pharmacy
a praia — the beach
o mercado — the market
a escola — the school
o aeroporto — the airport
o restaurante — the restaurant
Short, practical example dialogues
Example 1: Catching transport
— Eu vou para o aeroporto. — Você vai de carro ou ônibus? — Vou de ônibus.
Example 2: Meeting a friend
— Você vai ao cinema hoje? — Sim, eu vou às oito. — Posso ir com você?
Example 3: Asking where to go
— Como eu chego no mercado? — Vá em frente e vire à direita. Depois você vai ver o mercado.
Negative and questions with ir
To make negative sentences, place não before the verb. To form questions, use rising intonation or a question word at the start.
Eu não vou. — I am not going.
Você não vai hoje? — You are not going today?
Quando você vai? — When are you going?
Para onde você vai? — Where are you going to?
Useful short answers and confirmations
Yes and no responses are simple and common in conversation.
Vou. — I will go / I am going.
Não vou. — I am not going.
Vou sim. — I will go, yes (used to insist positively).
Vou com você. — I will go with you.
Common mistakes beginners make
Mixing a and para incorrectly is the top mistake. Remember a often pairs with cities, islands, and specific places with definite articles, while para stresses movement toward or purpose.
Incorrect: Vou para São Paulo. (acceptable but most Brazilians say Vou a São Paulo)
Incorrect: Vou no médico. (Should be Vou ao médico for movement toward clinic)
Using estar em for movement can be wrong: Estou no banco means I am at the bank, not I am going to the bank.
Tip: learn contractions and practice set phrases
Learn ao, à, and no/na because they appear in everyday speech. Practice full sentences rather than isolated words to internalize patterns.
ao = a + o (masculine singular)
à = a + a (feminine singular)
no = em + o (often used to mean at the)
Short practice exercises for beginners
Exercise 1: Translate these to Portuguese in your notebook.
I am going to the market. — Eu vou para o mercado.
We are going to the beach tomorrow. — Nós vamos à praia amanhã.
She is going to the doctor at five. — Ela vai ao médico às cinco.
Exercise 2: Make questions from these statements.
Você vai ao restaurante. — Você vai ao restaurante hoje?
Ele vai trabalhar. — Quando ele vai trabalhar?
Listening and real-world practice
When you travel or use apps, look for signs with vai, vou, and vamos. Notice announcements at stations or bus stops and simple messages like Vou chegar às 18h. These short patterns repeat and build comprehension fast.
Quick reference: Most useful ir phrases for beginners
Eu vou — I go / I am going
Vai demorar? — Will it take long? / Is it going to take long?
Vou chegar às… — I will arrive at…
Para onde vamos? — Where are we going?
Vamos embora — Let’s go (common and informal)
Conclusion
Ir is central to everyday Portuguese. Master the present tense, the ir + infinitive structure for near future plans, and the prepositions a and para. Practice short, realistic phrases like Eu vou ao mercado or Nós vamos ao cinema to build confidence. With these basics you will understand directions, make plans, and navigate simple conversations in Brazilian Portuguese.
