Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to forget" in Portuguese: esquecer
esquecer
To forget in Portuguese is esquecer. Say Eu esqueci for I forgot, and Não esquece de… when reminding someone with você.
Leaving home
Eu esqueci a carteira em cima da cama.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce esquecer
Say it
es-keh-SEHR / es-keh-SEE
/esq.ue.ˈseʁ/
es-keh-SEHR. Eu esqueci is es-keh-SEE.
"to forget" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| esquecer | to forget Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu esqueci | I forgot Apology starter. | Apology starter. |
| não esquece | don't forget (você) Friendly reminder. | Friendly reminder. |
| esqueci de | I forgot to / about Esqueci de levar… | Esqueci de levar… |
| esquecido | forgotten Past participle / adjective. | Past participle / adjective. |
How to use esquecer in real life
- 1Leaving home
Eu esqueci a carteira em cima da cama.
I forgot the wallet on the bed.
Eu esqueci + object.
- 2Texting a friend
Não esquece de mandar o endereço.
Don't forget to send the address.
Você form: esquece.
- 3After a meeting
Quase esquecemos o nome do cliente.
We almost forgot the client's name.
Esquecemos is first-person plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with esquecer
Incorrect: Eu olvidé a chave.
Correct: Eu esqueci a chave.
Olvidar is Spanish; Portuguese is esquecer.
Incorrect: Eu tenho esquecimento da senha.
Correct: Eu esqueci a senha.
Use the verb esqueci; esquecimento is a different noun.
Good to know
Brazilians apologize with Nossa, esqueci! without long excuses. Reminders often use Não esquece de… with você, warm rather than bossy.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Almost leaving phones behind
ChatPal
Você esqueceu o carregador outra vez?
Did you forget the charger again?
You
Esqueci sim. Que raiva.
I did forget. How annoying.
ChatPal
Eu quase esqueço o meu também.
I almost forget mine too.
You
Vamos fazer uma lista.
Let's make a list.
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 forget" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to forget" in Portuguese
How do I say I forgot?
Eu esqueci.
Don't forget…?
Não esquece de… with você.
Forget about it?
Esquece / Deixa pra lá.
Does esquecimento count?
No—that noun is not the verb headword.
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
