Portuguese · Everyday Verbs

"to use" in Portuguese: usar

usar

Say it: oo-ZAHRverb/u.ˈzaʁ/

Note: also: utilizar

To use in Portuguese is usar. Say eu uso and Você usa cartão? Utilizar is a synonym; keep usar in the sentence for this word.

App

Eu uso esse aplicativo pra pagar o estacionamento.
I use this app to pay for parking.
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How to pronounce usar

Say it

oo-ZAHR

/u.ˈzaʁ/

oo-ZAHR

"to use" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
usarto use / to wear

Dictionary form.

eu usoI use / I wear

First person.

você usayou use

Questions.

utilizarto use

Synonym; related.

How to use usar in real life

  1. 1App

    Eu uso esse aplicativo pra pagar o estacionamento.

    I use this app to pay for parking.

    Present.

  2. 2Kitchen

    Você usa a faca grande pra cortar o pão?

    Do you use the big knife to cut the bread?

    Tool.

  3. 3Past

    Ontem usei o carregador emprestado o dia todo.

    Yesterday I used the borrowed charger all day.

    Past.

Mistakes English speakers make with usar

Incorrect: Eu usar o forno.

Correct: Eu uso o forno.

Conjugate: eu uso.

Incorrect: Eu utilizo o forno (only).

Correct: Eu uso o forno.

For this headword, use usar; utilizar alone doesn’t count.

Good to know

Usar covers tools, apps, and clothing (usar uma camisa). Utilizar sounds more formal. Don’t confuse with costume (habit)—usar is the action.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Sharing a charger

  1. ChatPal

    Você usa este carregador no hotel?

    Do you use this charger at the hotel?

  2. You

    Uso. Ele carrega rápido.

    I do. It charges fast.

  3. ChatPal

    Posso usar depois de você?

    Can I use it after you?

  4. You

    Claro. Em dez minutos liberto.

    Sure. In ten minutes I’ll free it up.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"to use" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to use" in Portuguese

I use?

Eu uso.

Do you use…?

Você usa…?

Utilizar vs usar?

Both mean use; prefer usar here.

I used?

Eu usei.

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