Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to explain" in Portuguese: explicar
explicar
To explain in Portuguese is explicar. Prefer eu explico or expliquei so the verb is clear—a explicação is the noun explanation.
Homework help
Eu explico a conta passo a passo no caderno.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce explicar
Say it
es-plee-KAR / es-PLEE-koo
/es.pli.ˈkaʁ/
es-plee-KAR. Eu explico is es-PLEE-koo
"to explain" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| explicar | to explain Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu explico | I explain Clear first person. | Clear first person. |
| você explica | you explain Questions. | Questions. |
| expliquei | I explained Past. | Past. |
| pode explicar de novo? | can you explain again? Clarification ask. | Clarification ask. |
How to use explicar in real life
- 1Homework help
Eu explico a conta passo a passo no caderno.
I'll explain the problem step by step in the notebook.
Eu explico.
- 2Tourist map
Você explica onde fica o ponto de ônibus?
Will you explain where the bus stop is?
Você explica.
- 3After confusion
Expliquei duas vezes, mas posso repetir com calma.
I explained twice, but I can repeat calmly.
Expliquei past.
Mistakes English speakers make with explicar
Incorrect: Eu explicar agora.
Correct: Eu explico agora.
Conjugate: eu explico.
Incorrect: Eu dou uma explicação você (as the verb)
Correct: Eu te explico.
A explicação is the noun; explico is the verb.
Good to know
Pode explicar de novo? is a polite classroom and service line. Brazilians often add com outras palavras when the first explanation was too technical.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Understanding a phone bill
ChatPal
Essa taxa extra te confundiu?
Did that extra fee confuse you?
You
Sim—você explica o que é?
Yes—will you explain what it is?
ChatPal
É roaming. Quer que eu detalhe?
It's roaming. Want me to detail it?
You
Quero. Eu explico depois pro meu irmão também.
Yes. I'll explain it to my brother later too.
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 explain" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to explain" in Portuguese
Noun explanation?
A explicação.
Explain again?
Pode explicar de novo?
I don't get it?
Não entendi—pode explicar?
Past?
Expliquei / ela explicou.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
