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be

be

06meanings to explore
Translation of “ser”Match details
  • Translation of “ser” in this context.
01

be

verb

Identify a person or thing, or give a characteristic used to describe it.

to be
  • ser

    Portuguese pattern: ser + noun or adjective.

    My sister is an engineer.

    Minha irmã é engenheira.

    That market is small, but it has a bit of everything.

    Esse mercado é pequeno, mas tem de tudo.

02

be

verb

State when or where an event takes place.

to be
  • ser

    Portuguese pattern: ser + time or place.

    The appointment is on Thursday.

    A consulta é na quinta-feira.

    The meeting is in the next room.

    A reunião é na sala ao lado.

03

be

verbimpersonal

To describe weather or temperature without a personal subject.

to be
  • fazerimpersonal

    Portuguese pattern: faz + weather.

    It is hot here in summer.

    Faz calor aqui no verão.

04

be

verb

Give the time of day.

to be
  • ser

    Portuguese pattern: é uma hora; são + plural hour.

    It is half past one.

    É uma hora e meia.

    It is already eight o’clock!

    Já são oito horas!

05

be

verb

Describe the condition someone or something is in at the relevant time.

to be
  • estar

    Portuguese pattern: estar + adjective; estar com + noun.

    I am tired after the trip.

    Estou cansada depois da viagem.

    The coffee is cold.

    O café está frio.

06

be

verb

Locate a person or thing.

to be
  • estar

    Portuguese pattern: estar em + place.

    The keys are in the backpack.

    As chaves estão na mochila.

    We are at the entrance to the building.

    Estamos na entrada do prédio.

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These meanings cover the contexts shown in the examples. Other uses may need different translations.

Conjugation

Explore the conjugation of be.

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Original AI-authored bilingual entry. Translation contexts and examples were reread separately against the existing source-backed Portuguese senses; English word classes and inflections were checked separately. No human or native-speaker review.