Portuguese · Everyday Verbs

"can (to be able to)" in Portuguese: poder

poder

poh-DEHR / POH-soo / POH-jeeverb/po.ˈdeʁ/

Note: to know how to: saber

To be able to in Portuguese is poder. Say eu posso and você pode. Posso entrar? asks permission. Knowing how is usually saber, not poder.

Permission

Posso abrir a janela um pouco?

Can I open the window a little?

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How to pronounce poder

Say it

poh-DEHR / POH-soo / POH-jee

/po.ˈdeʁ/

poh-DEHR. Eu posso is POH-soo; você pode is POH-jee.

"can (to be able to)" in Portuguese: quick reference

Portuguese	English	When to use
poder	to be able to / may Dictionary form.	Dictionary form.
eu posso	I can / may I Ability or permission.	Ability or permission.
você pode	you can / can you Requests and ability.	Requests and ability.
não posso	I can't Refusal or inability.	Refusal or inability.
se puder	if you can Polite conditional.	Polite conditional.

How to use poder in real life

1Permission
Posso abrir a janela um pouco?
Can I open the window a little?
Posso…? for may I.
2Ability
Hoje eu não posso dirigir depois do remédio.
Today I can't drive after the medicine.
Não posso + infinitive.
3Polite request
Você pode me ajudar com as malas?
Can you help me with the bags?
Você pode…?

Mistakes English speakers make with poder

Incorrect: Eu saber nadar (for ability in the water today).

Correct: Eu posso nadar. / Eu sei nadar.

Poder is can/be able (situation); saber is know how. Don't swap them blindly.

Incorrect: Eu poder ir agora.

Correct: Eu posso ir agora.

Conjugate: eu posso.

Good to know

Posso…? is the everyday Brazilian door-opener for permission. Você pode…? softens requests. For skills like languages or instruments, prefer sei / sabe (saber) unless you mean allowed or possible right now.