Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to drive" in Portuguese: dirigir
dirigir
Note: PT-PT: conduzir
To drive in Portuguese is dirigir: eu dirijo, você dirige, nós dirigimos. In European Portuguese, conduzir is the usual verb.
Offer
Eu dirijo na ida se você dirigir na volta.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce dirigir
Say it
jee-ree-ZHEER / jee-REE-zhoo / jee-REE-zhee
/dʒi.ɾi.ˈʒiʁ/
jee-ree-ZHEER. Eu dirijo is jee-REE-zhoo; você dirige is jee-REE-zhee.
"to drive" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| dirigir | to drive Dictionary form (Brazil). | Dictionary form (Brazil). |
| eu dirijo | I drive First person. | First person. |
| você dirige | you drive Questions and habits. | Questions and habits. |
| dirigimos | we drive Inclusive we. | Inclusive we. |
| conduzir (PT-PT) | to drive (Portugal) European Portuguese. | European Portuguese. |
How to use dirigir in real life
- 1Offer
Eu dirijo na ida se você dirigir na volta.
I’ll drive there if you drive back.
Eu dirijo / dirigir.
- 2Habit
Você dirige bem à noite?
Do you drive well at night?
Você dirige.
- 3Road trip
Dirigimos seis horas até a praia.
We drove six hours to the beach.
Dirigimos.
Mistakes English speakers make with dirigir
Incorrect: Eu dirigir amanhã.
Correct: Eu dirijo amanhã. / Vou dirigir amanhã.
Conjugate or use ir + infinitive.
Incorrect: Eu conduzo no Brasil (teaching dirigir)
Correct: Eu dirijo
Brazil’s everyday verb is dirigir; conduzir is mainly PT-PT.
Good to know
Brazilian Portuguese defaults to dirigir for cars. Conduzir appears in Portugal and in technical Brazilian writing. CNH is the driver’s license; habilitação is the same idea in speech.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Sharing driving on a trip
ChatPal
Você dirige a primeira parte?
Will you drive the first stretch?
You
Dirijo. Depois você dirige.
I’ll drive. Then you drive.
ChatPal
Combinado. Eu dirijo depois do almoço.
Deal. I’ll drive after lunch.
You
Perfeito. Abasteço antes de sair.
Perfect. I’ll fill up before we leave.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to drive" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to drive" in Portuguese
Key forms?
Eu dirijo, você dirige, dirigimos, dirija.
Portugal?
Conduzir is the usual PT-PT verb.
Driver’s license?
CNH / habilitação.
Can you drive?
Você sabe dirigir?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
