Portuguese · Everyday Verbs

"to hug" in Portuguese: abraçar

abraçar

Say it: ah-brah-SAHR / ah-BRAH-soo / ah-BRAH-sahverb/a.bɾa.ˈsaʁ/

To hug in Portuguese is abraçar. Clear verb forms are eu te abraço, ela abraça, and a gente se abraça. Prefer the verb over only saying um abraço.

Airport reunion

Quando te vi, te abracei sem pensar.
When I saw you, I hugged you without thinking.
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How to pronounce abraçar

Say it

ah-brah-SAHR / ah-BRAH-soo / ah-BRAH-sah

/a.bɾa.ˈsaʁ/

ah-brah-SAHR. Eu abraço is ah-BRAH-soo; você abraça is ah-BRAH-sah.

"to hug" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
abraçarto hug

Dictionary form.

eu te abraçoI hug you

Warm closing or literal.

você abraçayou hug

Comments.

se abraçarto hug each other

Reciprocal.

abraçandohugging

Gerund.

How to use abraçar in real life

  1. 1Airport reunion

    Quando te vi, te abracei sem pensar.

    When I saw you, I hugged you without thinking.

    Past abracei.

  2. 2Comfort

    Posso te abraçar? Você parece triste.

    Can I hug you? You look sad.

    Consent ask.

  3. 3Family habit

    A gente se abraça sempre na despedida.

    We always hug each other at goodbye.

    Reciprocal.

Mistakes English speakers make with abraçar

Incorrect: Eu te dou um abraço (as only verb practice).

Correct: Eu te abraço.

Use the verb abraço/abraça when practicing abraçar.

Incorrect: Eu abraçar você.

Correct: Eu te abraço.

Conjugate the verb.

Good to know

Brazilian greetings often include a hug among friends. Eu te abraço works as a message closing and as a real hug—read the room for formality.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Meeting after a long trip

  1. ChatPal

    Cheguei! Posso te abraçar?

    I'm here! Can I hug you?

  2. You

    Claro. Eu te abraço forte!

    Of course. I'm hugging you tight!

  3. ChatPal

    Senti sua falta. Abraça a vovó também.

    I missed you. Hug grandma too.

  4. You

    vou!

    Going now!

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"to hug" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to hug" in Portuguese

I hug you?

Eu te abraço.

Can I hug you?

Posso te abraçar?

Hug each other?

Se abraçar / a gente se abraça.

Noun um abraço?

Related closing; prefer the verb for this entry.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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