Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to go" in Portuguese: ir
ir
To go in Portuguese is ir. Key present forms are eu vou and você vai. Brazilians also build near-future plans with ir + infinitive: Eu vou viajar amanhã.
Making plans
Quero ir ao mercado depois do almoço.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ir
Say it
eer / voh / vai
/ˈiʁ/
eer. Eu vou sounds like voh; você vai like vai.
"to go" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ir | to go Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu vou | I go / I'm going Present and near-future helper. | Present and near-future helper. |
| você vai | you go / you're going Default Brazilian you form. | Default Brazilian you form. |
| ir embora | to leave / go away Leaving a place. | Leaving a place. |
| vamos | let's go / we go Suggestion and first-person plural. | Suggestion and first-person plural. |
How to use ir in real life
- 1Making plans
Quero ir ao mercado depois do almoço.
I want to go to the market after lunch.
Ir ao + place is a core pattern.
- 2Asking a friend
Você quer ir comigo ao cinema?
Do you want to go with me to the movies?
Querer ir keeps the infinitive visible.
- 3Leaving a party
Já quero ir embora. Amanhã acordo cedo.
I want to leave now. Tomorrow I wake up early.
Ir embora means to leave; keep ir visible after quero.
Mistakes English speakers make with ir
Incorrect: Eu ir para casa agora.
Correct: Eu vou para casa agora.
Conjugate ir: eu vou, not the infinitive alone as the main verb.
Incorrect: Quero ir a o cinema (uncontracted)
Correct: Quero ir ao cinema.
A + o contracts to ao before masculine nouns.
Good to know
Ir + infinitive is Brazilian daily future talk: Vou fazer, Vou te ligar. Learning vou/vai early unlocks plans without full future conjugations.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding how to get to a concert
ChatPal
Você prefere ir de metrô ou de ônibus para o show?
Do you prefer to go by metro or bus to the show?
You
Prefiro ir de metrô. É mais rápido.
I prefer to go by metro. It's faster.
ChatPal
Ótimo. Eu também vou. A gente se encontra na estação?
Great. I'm going too. Shall we meet at the station?
You
Vamos sim. Posso ir te buscar na porta.
Yes, let's. I can go pick you up at the door.
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 go" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to go" in Portuguese
How do I say I'm going to…?
Eu vou + infinitive: Eu vou estudar, Eu vou viajar.
What are the main present forms?
Eu vou, você/ele/ela vai, nós vamos, vocês/eles vão.
How do I say let's go?
Vamos! Add a place if needed: Vamos embora!
Is ir used for transportation?
Yes: ir de carro, ir de ônibus, ir a pé.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
