Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to meet" in Portuguese: encontrar
encontrar
Note: for the first time: conhecer
To meet in Portuguese is encontrar. Say Eu encontro você às sete and Ontem encontrei a Ana. For meeting someone the first time, conhecer is common — it doesn’t count unless encontrar is also there. Don’t use encontro only as the noun “meeting.”
Making plans
Eu encontro você na entrada do cinema às vinte.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce encontrar
Say it
eng-kon-TRAHR
/ẽ.kõ.ˈtɾaʁ/
eng-kon-TRAHR
"to meet" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| encontrar | to meet / to find Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu encontro | I meet / I find Present verb. | Present verb. |
| encontramos | we meet / we met (hist.) Present plural. | Present plural. |
| encontrei | I met / I found Past. | Past. |
| conhecer | to meet for the first time Related; not alone. | Related; not alone. |
How to use encontrar in real life
- 1Making plans
Eu encontro você na entrada do cinema às vinte.
I’ll meet you at the cinema entrance at eight.
Encontro as verb.
- 2Workday
A gente encontra o cliente depois do almoço.
We’ll meet the client after lunch.
Business meet-up.
- 3Chance reunion
Ontem encontrei meu professor no metrô lotado.
Yesterday I ran into my teacher on the packed metro.
Past encontrei.
Mistakes English speakers make with encontrar
Incorrect: Eu encontrar você às oito.
Correct: Eu encontro você às oito. / Vou te encontrar às oito.
Conjugate: eu encontro.
Incorrect: Vou te conhecer no café (meant meet up, only).
Correct: Vou te encontrar no café.
Keep encontrar for a planned meet-up; conhecer alone doesn’t count here.
Good to know
Encontrar covers meet-ups and running into people. First introductions often use Prazer and conhecer. Encontro as a noun means a meeting — for this verb entry, make sure the conjugated verb is visible.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arranging a coffee meetup
ChatPal
A gente encontra onde — no café da esquina?
Where do we meet — at the corner café?
You
Sim. Eu te encontro lá às dez.
Yes. I’ll meet you there at ten.
ChatPal
Se atrasar, me encontra dentro, perto do balcão.
If you’re late, meet me inside near the counter.
You
Combinado.
Deal.
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 meet" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to meet" in Portuguese
I’ll meet you?
Eu te encontro. / Eu encontro você.
We meet?
A gente se encontra. / Encontramos.
I met / ran into?
Encontrei.
Encontrar vs conhecer?
Encontrar is meet/find; conhecer is meet for the first time / know.
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
